The Provisional Municipal Council of Macau (PMCM) is going to have a lottery for applicants who are interested in setting up stores in markets, including the St. Dominic Market at the city centre.

This is believed to be one of the government efforts to boost business in local markets. One of the worst cases is the St. Dominic Market. Since the market was reopened two and a half years ago after reconstruction, not as many people go shopping there as before.

The market was first established at the end of the 1940s. Located in the central part of the city, it used to attract many people every day and was one of the most prosperous markets in town. However, the situation changed after it was closed down for reconstruction in 1995.

The renovated market has a very modern look: it has five floors with escalators and air-conditioning. Although nearly a billion Patacas has been spent on its facelift, the market fails to attract many shoppers.

The major reason is that there aren't sufficient parking spaces near the area.

"I can hardly find a parking place on the street to park my car near the St. Dominic Market. Therefore, I prefer to shop at other markets where I can easily find a parking place nearby," said Lao Ngan Neng, a resident in the Macau city centre.

People also find that the market does not have a wide variety of food as it used to have.

Rita Cheang, who shops at market every day, said, "Many stores have been closed in the St. Dominic Market, so I have fewer choices in food varieties. In addition, I have been accustomed to shopping in other markets since the close-down of the St. Dominic Market."

On the third floor of the market, there are many closed stores or empty counter spaces because store owners cannot make a profit.

"Although store spaces in markets in the North Zone are much smaller, many hawkers have moved their business there because there are more customers," said Wong Seng, a fish vendor at the St. Dominic Market.

Many people and store owners hope that the government will consider the plan to build a public car park near the St. Dominic Market. They believe that this can attract more shoppers to the market and the city centre of Macau.

The PMCP's new lottery regulation stipulates that if a lottery winner closes down his/her store, his/her store space would be given to other people without the lottery.
 
 
 
 

Empty store spaces in the Market.