Vandals topple pole at Richmond night market
The operator of Richmond's open-air night market says he feels targeted after someone vandalized the property only weeks before it was set to open.
Sometime on Saturday, vandals toppled an electricity pole, effectively cutting power from the hundreds of merchants that were preparing to do business when the market opens on May 30.
"Obviously at first, we thought someone was trying to steal cable and copper, but all the cable was left there," said Paul Cheung of Lions Communications, which is applying for a permit to open the night market this summer.
"I cannot believe that this is anything other than someone wanting to stop the market from opening," Cheung told CTV News. "I don't know anyone who would not want the market to open."
Richmond's night market is a major tourist draw, attracting 30,000 per night to its 400 booths.
Cheung said he has called the Richmond RCMP and set up an appointment with electricians on Monday to determine the damage.
Right now, he is estimating that to fix the pole and restore power would cost about $5,000 -- but that's not the main problem.
"It's a matter of whether we can open in time," said Cheung. "Every day that this market is delayed, it's a big loss of revenue (for the merchants). It could be up to $50,000 per day."
The City of Richmond granted Cheung the temporary permit to operate the night market between May 30 and October 5, 2008, though that permit still must go to a public hearing on May 20.
The market will be held Friday, Saturday, Sunday and statutory holidays from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Cheung said he hopes that the public will help find who vandalized the pole, and support the night market.
乜可以用 richmond night market 既相咩作者: Traum 時間: 2008-5-12 10:59
提示: 作者被禁止或刪除 內容自動屏蔽作者: Mr.JPG 時間: 2008-5-12 11:17
Target Event作者: kaimui22 時間: 2008-5-12 11:29
u know i just thought of something...
because the last meeting before the nightmarket opens is may 20th..and they gotta open it on may 30th, it means they only have 10 days to prepare the site and everything..
what if they weren't going to be ready within 10 days? would they have to 賠錢 to the merchants or the landowner? ....but what if they couldn't open in time because of vandalism or some other reason? would they be covered by insurance or exempt from the penalties of opening later?
i'm not pointing any fingers...but...of course the most obvious culprit is the previous owner..but...what if it was just a scene to cover up the real culprit?
also...they are using the old market's pictures for their PR...i think that's pretty stupid.作者: Ultraman 時間: 2008-5-12 13:55
Yea, wouldn't it be too obvious if this was done by the previous organizer?! However, chances are, a trick by the current organizer, or a residence from the neighborhood who hates they create a lot of noise and traffic, or ..... more. 作者: 布小熊 時間: 2008-5-12 15:30
this is getting so complicate...作者: Mr.JPG 時間: 2008-5-12 15:58
碌柱好容以就可以整番
下次會唔會放火燒 warehouse 架作者: Sun 時間: 2008-5-12 20:14
Is this a third world country? Can't believe that.作者: ashtaron14 時間: 2008-5-12 23:19
may be........ they want to make free advertisement ....... lol作者: milkiwei 時間: 2008-5-18 14:23
i can't believe there's soo much problems behind the richmond night market... We should seriously do a petition supporting the richmond night market!! I've been to the chinatown night market yesterday, the prices of the merchandises is equivalent to stores in malls (ex.parker place). Its ridiculous!
