City Hall orders car lots closed

via CAAI

Thursday, 02 December 2010 15:01 May Titthara

AUTOMOBILE businesses operating along Phnom Penh’s Russian Boulevard have been ordered to shut down by the end of this month in the interests of public order and appearances, according to a notice issued by City Hall.

The document, dated November 26, instructs business owners operating along the boulevard in Daun Penh, Tuol Kork, Sen Sok and Dangkor districts to “remove and shut down all kinds of car selling businesses from December 31, 2010”.

According to the notice, the closures have been ordered “to keep public order and improve beauty” in the city.

It warns that if businesses fail to comply with the deadline, “the municipality will take administrative action to remove [property] without any responsibility [for] damages”.

Koet Chhe, deputy cabinet chief at City Hall, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Hem Darith, deputy governor of Dangkor district, said one of the reasons for the ordered closures was that Russian Boulevard is often travelled by delegations of national and international officials.

“We do not want them to sell [cars] because it’s a place where delegations pass by,” he said.

“It’s a big selling place where many automobiles have been brought in and out so it caused disorder,” he said.

Hay Soeung, owner of the Hay Soeung Automobile Shop, which specializes in luxury vehicles and is located on Russian Boulevard in Sen Sok district, said he would ignore the notice as he had previously received permission for his business from City Hall.

He said he was confident that officials would not shut down his showroom because it “makes the city look good to see such business along the main area”.