Purpose of the hawker centre: The Kreta Ayer Complex was built in 1981 as a part of the urban renewal of the Chinatown.  This was part of the Government’s plan to provide a solution to thousands of street hawkers who were still selling food illegally throughout the streets of Chinatown.  Although many original hawkers have left the hawker centre, there are still about 20% of them remaining in this hawker centre.