Date: 15 December 2025
KCM Properties Limited and its director, Mr David Kwan, are aware of the media release issued today by Honiara City Council regarding the Firehouse clothing market.
We wish to make the following points:
1. Court proceedings are ongoing
On 5 December 2025, the High Court of Solomon Islands granted interim orders in favour of KCM Properties Ltd in Civil Case 596 of 2025. Those orders were made to preserve the Firehouse clothing market and protect stallholders while the Court considers serious legal issues concerning HCC’s actions.
Separately, Mr Kwan has been charged under the Honiara City Council (Markets) Ordinance and is required to appear in the Magistrates’ Court on 16 December 2025. These are allegations only, which he firmly denies, and which will be answered in Court.
2. Respect for the courts and the rule of law
We will not debate the detailed merits of either case in the media.
We have chosen to place these matters before the independent courts and we will abide by their decisions.
We respectfully ask Honiara City Council likewise to allow the courts to determine what is and is not lawful, rather than declaring in advance that our activities are “illegal”.
3. Support for stallholders
The Firehouse clothing market has, since late 2023, provided a place for mostly women vendors who were displaced from Honiara Central Market to earn a basic living and support their families.
KCM remains committed to seeking lawful, safe and orderly arrangements for these stallholders on its privately-owned land, within the framework set by the courts.
We ask members of the public to treat today’s media statements as one side of an ongoing legal dispute. The proper place for those issues to be decided is in the High Court and the Magistrates’ Court, not on Facebook.
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For further comment, please contact:
For media enquiries:
David Kwan – Director, KCM Properties Limited
Email: kwandavid@outlook.com
Ben Etomea – BETS LEGAL SERVICES
Email: etomea_ben@yahoo.com
