Wet market

Wet market
Chinese	街市
Hanyu Pinyin	jiē shì
Jyutping	gaai1 si5
Literal meaning	street market
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin jiē shì Yue: Cantonese Jyutping gaai1 si5
Traditional markets
Traditional Chinese	傳統市場
Simplified Chinese	传统市场
Transcriptions

In Hong Kong English and Singapore English,^[1] a wet market is a market selling fresh meat, fish, produce, and other perishable goods as distinguished from "dry markets" which sell durable goods such as fabric and electronics.^[2]

Chinese wet markets

Wet markets were traditionally places that sold dead and live animals out in the open. This includes poultry, fish, reptiles, and pigs. However, since SARS, large animals and poultry are not as commonly found in the markets in Hong Kong, though live fish, shellfish, and frogs are widely available. Some markets also sell exotic animals.^[3] Fresh fruits and vegetables are also available. Wet markets also generally include butcher shops with fresh meat. The fresh meat and fish sections are separate from the fruit and vegetable stalls. Many markets also have stalls that sell dried goods, flowers, and processed tofu as well as cooked meat.^[4]

In Hong Kong wet markets are most frequented by older residents, those with lower incomes, and domestic helpers who serve approximately 10 percent of Hong Kong's residents.^[4][5] Wet markets have become destinations for tourists to "see the real Hong Kong".^[4][6]

Many of the wet market buildings are owned by property investment firms and as a result the price of food can vary from market to market.^[7] In general, the owner of the wet market building is responsible for maintaining the building infrastructure. Stalls are rented out to retailers, who purchase and sell their goods independently. This is in contrast to a supermarket which is operated by a single company.

For some customers, it is important to see the animal alive before it is purchased to check its health and quality. This is generally not an option in supermarkets, except in lobster or fish booths. Most wet markets have facilities for allowing a customer to choose a live animal, then either take it home as is or have it killed and cleaned.

In culture

In September 2012, Hong Kong lifestyle retail store G.O.D. in cooperation with Sino Art, held The Street Market Symphony Exhibition at Olympian City 2, their first solo art exhibition in a shopping mall. The exhibition used multi-media installations housed in large red lampshades, the iconic representation of Hong Kong's wet markets. They are used to make the food look fresher.^[8]

Hong Kong wet markets

In 1920, Reclamation Street Market launched. Due to structure problem, Reclamation Street Market was removed by the government in 1953.^[9] In 1957, Yau Ma Tei Street Market launched to replace the Reclamation Street Market.^[10] There were fixed-pitch stalls which sold vegetables, fruits, seafood, beef, pork, and poultry. Also, there were stalls selling baby chickens, baby ducks, and three-striped box turtle as pets.^[11]

Central Market was launched on 16 May 1842. Its position was central, on Queen's Road. In this market, people could find all kinds of meat, fruit and vegetables, poultry, salt fish, fresh fish, weighing rooms and money changers. ^[12]

Hygiene

If sanitation standards are not maintained, wet markets can spread diseases. Because of the openness, newly introduced animals may come in direct contact with sales clerks, butchers, and customers. Insects such as flies have relatively easy access to the food products. Carcasses are sometimes thrown on the floor to be butchered. Both the current avian flu outbreak and SARS can be traced to keeping live animals in wet markets and its potential for contamination. In 2008 the government of Hong Kong proposed that all poultry should be slaughtered at central abattoirs to combat the spread of avian flu.^[13] However, public opposition to the scheme led to its abandonment.

Following the 2019–20 Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, proposals appeared to ban the operation of wet markets selling wildlife animal (some of them endangered species) for human consumption.^[14]

Gallery

• 
  Wet market, Singapore
• 
  Indoor markets are generally more organized than outdoors in Hong Kong
• 
  Live turtles next to pickled ginseng in Namdaemun Market, Seoul
• 
  Indoor markets also exist under shopping areas such as this one under Lok Fu Shopping Centre (Hong Kong).

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wet markets.