Iao Hon Market undergoing upgrades to facilities

The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) launched a four-phase renovation of Iao Hon Market last week, with work already underway.

This initiative aims to renovate existing hawker stalls, strengthen fire prevention measures, enhance electrical safety, increase recreational space, and improve the overall business environment.

During the renovation, vendors will not be required to close their businesses, ensuring their operations remain unaffected.

IAM has been in close communication with vendors, making arrangements to relocate all 32 existing stalls before the Lunar New Year next year.

The project will maintain the current north-south layout and stall sizes.
After the first three phases of construction, vendors will be moved to the newly constructed stalls in an orderly manner.

The fourth phase will focus on constructing a small leisure plaza.
Upgrades will include individual electricity meters, brick walls separating stalls, fire sprinklers, and transparent roller shutters.

Automatic power-off features will also be added to reduce potential electrical hazards.

The hawker area’s pavement will be replaced with multi-colored tiles, and the new recreational plaza on the south side will feature greenery and seating, according to the bureau.

Hawker stalls will be arranged in groups of four in a square configuration, with wider pedestrian passages of two meters to facilitate movement and fire prevention.

Following an April 20 fire reportedly caused by a short circuit, IAM said it has strengthened fire prevention measures, conducting regular inspections of stall electrical equipment and coordinating with relevant departments to raise safety awareness among hawkers.

Times Reporter