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Hawkers might be allowed to sell all these goods, provided that the fruit is uncut. Flowers might be classified as a distinct class in future. A special flower-street might be set aside for flower hawkers. Pedlars might also be permitted to sell flowers. Stalls for flowers might be permitted at cemeteries.
(vi) Class VI (Vegetables.)
It appears to us unavoidable at present that hawkers should continue to be licensed to sell vegetables.
(vii) Class VII (Cooked Food.)
As we have already stated in this report we disapprove on hygienic grounds of the sale of cooked food by hawkers, but we recognise nevertheless that a demand for cooked food at present exists at places convenient to workers, and that, until this demand is supplied by workers-canteens and eating houses in adequate numbers, cooked- food hawkers must continue to be licensed. High priority should be given to any plans for the provision of further cheap workers eating houses at convenient points, and we strongly recommend that large employers of labour be urged to provide simple canteens for their workers. Labour legislation might eventually be enacted to make measures of this kind incumbent on large employers of labour. In the meantime as a temporary expedient, but only until adequate numbers of eating houses and workers canteens are provided,-we recommend that a certain very limited number of temporary (stall-holders) hawkers licences should be issued for the sale of cooked food in the vicinity of large works. (vide para. 33 above.) It should be made clear to the licensees that such licences would be valid for a maximum period of one year in the first instance and would not necessarily be renewable there- after. In no circumstances should such licences be devisable.
(viii) Class VIII (Food)
Sweets
Preserved fruit
We consider it is desirable to effect that only sweets and pre- served fruits made by establishments approved by the Urban Council should get into the hands of hawkers for sale. This could be effected if licences to hawk such foods were issued only to vendors employed by approved establishments. The same arrangement might also apply in the case of bread and cakes, which might be added to this class, licences to hawk which should only be issued to the employees of approved bakeries. We understand that a similar scheme is already in operation for the sale of ice-cream by hawkers, some of whom might be granted considerable mobility as pedlars especially in the summer season.
(ix) Class IX Ice-Cream.
Ice-cream might be sold under the existing safeguards as indicated above.
(x) Class X (Miscellaneous services.)
We advise that the following street trades might be included here, some perhaps most suitably as pedlars:-
Letter writer Tinker
Shoe-shine boy
(These should be licensed only on the recommendation of a body re- commended by the Hong Kong Social Welfare Council.)