RAE2020 Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers

Brian Sze Hang KWOK PolyU – UoA 38

10.2019

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 1 Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 2 Content

Chapter Topic Page

1 Keywords 04 2 Descriptor 05 3 Bio 06 4 List of output 07 5 Research questions 08 6 Research methods and materials 09 7 Research outcomes / key findings 13 8 Dissemination and distribution 18 9 Award 26 10 References 28

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 3 Keywords

Hong Kong, Spatial tactics, Strategy, Street hawkers, Street stalls

Exploring the visual culture and craftsmanship of Kong neon signs 4 Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers

Descriptor Conflicts around street space are an everyday occurrence in a modern city, a prominent example of which would be the constant strife between street hawkers and law enforcement officers. is well known as one of the most densely populated modern cities. The Hong Kong government has been regulating hawker activity through limiting licenses and restricting fixed-pitched stall sizes. Under strict surveillance from the Hawker Control Teams, hawkers employ a variety of spatial tactics to avoid prosecution and at the same time maximize their display areas in order to attract customers.

The project aims to understand the ways in which hawkers manage and accumulate spatial resources, within the standard boundaries of narrow 3 by 4 ft. stalls. It analyzes the types of spatial tactics applied in stalls, which are the hawkers’ response to tightening regulation, and provides a glimpse into the spatial negotiation and manipulation in the relationships between hawkers and Hawker Control Teams.

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 5 Bio

Brian Kwok is an information designer and a leader of Information Design Lab. His research focuses on accessibility and legibility of information, Chinese typography and visual culture. His research projects include visual neon signs, and visual cues and legibility of medicine label for elderly.

Exploring the visual culture and craftsmanship of Hong Kong neon signs 6 List of output

Journal article • Kwok, Brian Sze-Hang. (2019), ‘Spatial Tactics of Hong Kong Street Hawkers: A Case Study of Fa Yuen Street’, Visual Ethnography, Vol. 8, No. 1, 2019, ISSN 2281-1605. DOI: 10.12835/ve2019.1-0121

Book • Kwok, Brian Sze-Hang. (2016). ‘I am a Street Ethnologist – a cultural and spatial study of Fa Yuen Street’ 《我是街道觀察員──花園街的⽂化地景》. Joint Publishing (H.K.) Co., Ltd. ISBN 9789620439759. Website: https://www.cp1897.com.hk/product_info.php?BookId=9789620439759

Conference presentation • Kwok, Brian Sze-Hang. (2017). “Spatial tactics of Hong Kong street hawkers: A case study of Fa Yuen Street”, IVMC 5 – Visualising the City Conference, Singapore Institute of Technology. August 16-18, 2017

Exhibition • ‘A daily life in Fa Yuen Street’, Photography exhibition, exhibited in the Joint Publishing Bookstore, WanChai, Hong Kong, December 2-18, 2016.

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 7 Research questions

1. How the street hawkers response to tightening regulation and avoid prosecution?

2. How many types of spatial tactics that street hawkers applied in stalls?

3. What are the spatial negotiation and manipulation in the relationships between hawkers and Hawker Control Teams?

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 8 Research methods and materials

On-site observation To facilitate a comprehensive understanding of spatial tactics, the researcher conducted extensive field studies and interacted closely with different stakeholders involved. Multiple visits were made to Fa Yuen Street from 2012 to 2014, allowing observation of pedestrians/ visitors, street hawkers and law enforcement officers, as well as an in-depth study of differences in the usage of stall space.

The researcher also engaged in unobtrusive observation of the stalls’ opening and closing processes, in order to gain insight into the spatial strategies hawkers have developed. This method enabled an understanding of the decision making process involved in arranging goods according to size, type and stall feature. Through categorization and analysis of data from 233 individual hawker stalls on the street, the researcher presents their unique spatial characteristics and differences from each other.

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 9 Research methods and materials

Stakeholder interviews Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 male and 4 female hawkers aged between mid-30’s to 90. Topics explored in the interviews included personal experiences, how the interviewees became hawkers, Fa Yuen Street’s history, spatial appropriation and tactics, changes in visitor types and consumption patterns, the reasons behind interviewees’ selection of goods, as well as hawker policy and management.

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 10 Research methods and materials

Hand-sketching for documenting of spatial tactics Sketching for documenting the street hawker’s spatial tactics when opening and closing their stalls. Sketching is a good way of less noticeable and sensitive for capturing how public space is manipulated and extended.

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 11 Street hawker converted public space to a semi-private space of home-like space.

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 12 Research outcomes / key findings

This study aimed to understand, from Through analyzing these forms of spatial various perspectives, the development and usage, much insight can be gained evolution of pai dongs (street stalls) on Fa regarding the everyday activities and living Yuen Street, in view of changes in street habits of different hawkers. ecology and spatial power dynamics. To procure an advantageous position in The analysis reveals that hawkers are highly street commerce, hawkers reference and aware of the relationship between their learn from each other’s spatial tactics, and stalls and street space; the fact that they consciously design their stall spaces to routinely open and close up their stalls showcase their different types of goods. every day has resulted in a need to utilize Through observing and analyzing the space as effectively as possible, in order for opening and closing procedures of different them to move around easily and maximize pai dongs, the researcher has also found display potential. flexible and ingenious uses of tools devised by hawkers as means for effective spatial Through detailed observation and analysis extension and organization, including for of 233 pai dongs on Fa Yuen Street, the example hooks, extendable beams, researcher has found and illustrated six connective display frames, and the essential major types of spatial usage in the pai pushcarts, all of which contribute to the dongs, namely the Ushaped, Open-space, hawkers’ daily effort in making as much as Full-packed, Semi-filled, Scattered and possible out of their narrowly confined Partitioned, each catering to specific needs stalls. relating to types of goods sold in the stalls.

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 13 Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 14 Key findings - six major types of spatial tactics

Full-packed spatial tactic Full-packed spatial tactic is one of the six the stall in every direction, they put an major types of spatial tactics. This type of emphasis on showcasing as varied and pai dong space may be described as fully numerous a range of products as possible. packed, or saturated, with merchandise. Stall owners put to use every inch available; by arranging items to be placed throughout

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 15 Key findings - six major types of spatial tactics

Open-space spatial tactic The word ‘open’ here alludes to the way in products such as phone accessories and which a pai dong is accessible to customers jewelry. While this approach might appear from both ends, front and back. This type of counterintuitive, considering the need to layout extends display area via clever use of maximize spatial resources, it allows each exterior walls, and creates as many vertical individual item a higher visibility and surfaces as necessary to showcase smaller tangibility.

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 16 Key findings - indigenous and improvised solutions

Little gadget: Hooks A vast array of small, sturdy hooks can be products in a neat line with hooks. Apart found across all pai dongs on Fa Yuen from it being an organizational tool aiding Street, as their simplicity in function merchandise arrangement, hooks can come guarantees effective display for different in quite handy for the expansion of usable kinds of merchandise. For instance, sellers stall space. of handbags are also known to hang their

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 17 Dissemination and distribution of outcomes Photo exhibition

Photo Exhibition: ‘A daily life in Fa Yuen Street’ This photo exhibition was to showcase a Yuen Street in different times. The daily life of different habitants who are exhibition was presented in the bookstore living in the Fa Yuen Street. A series of black of Joint Publishing Ltd in WanChai. and white photography were taken in the Fa

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 18 Dissemination and distribution of outcomes Photo exhibition

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 19 Dissemination and distribution of outcomes Photo exhibition

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 20 Dissemination and distribution of outcomes Photo exhibition

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 21 Dissemination and distribution of outcomes Media coverage

Date of publish Media title Article title 22-10-2016 Apple Daily 22-10-2016 Apple Daily 16-09-2016 01 HK01

07-05-2018 —— Headline Daily 05-10-2016 Wen Wei Po 12-02-2018 Fantastic TV 24-07-2016 Ming Pao Weekly 15-12-2017 City Magazine 2.0

15-11-2016 Knowledge

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 22 Dissemination and distribution of outcomes Public seminar

Seminars and talks

19-05-2018

14-01-2017 ── CACHe

22-07-2016

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 23 Research outcome - publication/book

The book ‘I am a Street Ethnologist – a cultural and spatial study of Fa Yuen Street’ 《我是街道觀 察員──花園街的⽂化地景》explores a range of inter-related perspectives on human interactions in the street and investigates how they have constructed a neighbourhood that exists through tightly networked social bonds in a distinctly local context. It also presents various spatial tactics reflecting Hong Kong’s street culture and vernacular knowledge. The book can be taken as a useful reference in light of urban redevelopment and street culture preservation in Hong Kong, in the near future.

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 24 Research outcome - publication/book

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 25 Award: Distinguished Publishing Award in The 28th Hong Kong Print Awards 2016

The book of ‘I am a Street Ethnologist – a cultural and spatial study of Fa Yuen Street’ 《我是街道觀察員──花 園街的⽂化地景》was awarded the Distinguished Publishing Award (優秀 出版⼤獎), in the 28th Hong Kong Print Awards (香港印製⼤奬) in 2016. Website: http:// www.hongkongprintawards.org/ 28th_spec.html

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 26 Award: Best Publishing Award in Hong Kong Publishing Biennial Awards 2017

The book of ‘I am a Street Ethnologist – a cultural and spatial study of Fa Yuen Street’ 《我是街道觀 察員──花園街的⽂化地景》was awarded the Best Publishing Award (最佳出版獎) in the category of “Life & Liberal Studies” (⽣活及科普), Hong Kong Publishing Biennial Awards 2017 (香 港出版雙年獎2017) website: http:// www.hkpba.org/event/594d09a2718be

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 27 References

1) Blonsky, M. (1985). On signs. Oxford: Blackwell. 2) Certeau, Michel de. (1998). The practice of everyday life, University of California Press. 3) Chen, X., Orum, A. M. &PaulsenK. E. (2013). Introduction to cities: How place and space shape human experience.Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell. 4) Cresswell, T. (2004). Place - A short introduction, Blackwell. 5) Cross, J. and Morales, A. (eds), (2007). Street entrepreneurs: People, place and politics in local and global perspective. London; New York: Routledge. 6) Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (2012). Outcome of consultation and way forward on mechanism for cancellation of hawker licenses and management of Fixed Pitch Hawker Areas.LegCo Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene, 2012 June 12, p.8. Retrieved 20January 2013 from http://www.fehd.gov.hk/english/ pleasant_environment/hawker/legCo_panel_paper.pdf 7) Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (2012). Panel papers on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene during 2008-2012. Retrieved 20 January 2013 from http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr11-12/english/panels/fseh/papers/fseh_h.htm 8) Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (2011). Statement issued by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, 24 December 2011. 9) Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (2012). Public consultation on management of Fixed Pitch Hawker Areas. p. 2. 10) Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (2011). Consultation on mechanism for cancellation of hawker licenses.pp.10-11. 11) Hong Kong SAR Government (2011). LC Urgent Q1: Fire at Fa Yuen Street.IS Department, Hong Kong SAR Government, 7 December 2011. 12) Hong Kong (1957). Hawkers: A report with policy recommendations. Hong Kong: Urban Council, Government Pr., December 1957. 13) Hong Kong Urban Council (1985). A consultation document on street and market policies- The report of a working party of the Urban Council Markets and Street Traders Select Committee to review hawkers and related policies. 1985 Oct. (Report) Hong Kong: Hong Kong, Urban Council. 14) Hong Kong Urban Council (1987). Report and recommendations of the Urban Council working party on hawker and related policies. Hong Kong: Urban Council, July 1987. 15) Jacobs, J. (1961). The death and life of Great American cities, Modern Library, 2011, 50th anniversary ed., 2011 Modern Library.

Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 28 References

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Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 29 Spatial Tactics: A Case Study of Street Hawkers 30 Unless the sources are specified in this Body of Work, the copyright of the materials presented (excerpts, photos, videos, figures, drawings, diagrams and media) is owned by the author

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