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normally be given unless it was agreed that the number of existing restaurants was inadequate and that suitable arrangements could be made for a flue. Again, fresh provision shops are always designated and their locations are decided in conjunction with the hawker bazaars in the various sections of a new estate after consultation with interested departments. Tenants ballot for these designated shop sites, preference being given to those who have carried on similar trades before resettlement, and permission is not usually given to establish them outside these locations.
DR. LEE:-On a point of clarification, Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Commissioner for Resettlement what he means by the last sentence in the third paragraph of his reply?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Mr. Chairman, it has been found that meat and fish shops almost invariably attract hawkers, and we would not readily agree to the opening of a meat or fish shop in a location where for one reason or another, it was undesirable for hawkers to establish themselves.
DR. LEE: Is it not a known fact, Mr. Chairman, that there are a lot of illegal hawkers existing near our already licensed food premises?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Certainly I agree, Sir, that there are a number of such illegal hawkers operating, particularly in the old resettlement estates.
DR. LEE:-I wonder what steps the Commissioner can take regarding these hawkers?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-It has been a very difficult problem, I believe for a long time. One thing we are trying to do is to introduce in the old estates the type of hawker bazaar which can now be seen at Yau Tong, and try to concentrate the hawkers in them. The choice of sites for them presents a problem, but in general we are trying to locate them between blocks where there are already meat and fish shops on the ground floor. That is where the hawkers like to be and that is where they are most useful to the tenants, but the question of control of hawkers in resettlement estates is a very big problem and we have had many consultations with the Urban Services Department and the Police. Apart from this attempt to get these hawker bazaars going, we have not really hit upon a satisfactory answer.
MR. FUNG HON-CHU:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Commissioner for Resettlement, through you, a supplementary in regard to the size of restaurant premises in Mark III and Mark IV estates? Is the area of such a restaurant equivalent to two bays in the old buildings?
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COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I cannot quite remember the comparative dimensions. My recollection is that in the new Mark III and IV estates the size of a restaurant is something between 500 and 600 square feet with an addition of a small back yard outside for storage.
MR. FUNG:-That is bigger than one bay, I suppose?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Yes, it is bigger than one bay; in fact I think it is bigger than two bays.
(2) DR. P. F. Woo asked the following question:-
The Urban Services Department has contracted a number of lorries to be used for collecting refuse. I notice that many of these lorries while carrying full loads are not properly covered so that some of the refuse gets blown in the air when the lorries are in motion. Will the Chairman give strict instructions that all such vehicles must be completely covered up before they start moving?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
The lorries in question were hired at the beginning of December. As the contractor could not supply tarpaulin covers these were specially made and issued by 11th December, with instructions that all vehicles were to be properly covered when travelling with loads of refuse. Following receipt of your question, the instructions mentioned have been repeated.
I will be pleased to investigate any cases in which lorries were travelling without covers, if you will be good enough to indicate the time and location of the incident.
MR. CHEUNG WING-IN:-Mr. Chairman, there are many lorries carrying debris that are not covered. Could the Council draw this to the attention of the Traffic Police?
CHAIRMAN:-I will look into the matter, Sir.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, regarding that point, is this more a matter for the Police or for the Director of Public Works? (Laughter).
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Could I ask, Mr. Chairman, why me? (Laughter).
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