HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
As regards licensed Cooked Food Stall hawkers, in 1966 there were 1,288; in 1967, 1,287; and this year (1968) 1,284. Members will probably be aware that no new licences in this category have been issued since 1958, and succession has been severely limited. It was therefore thought that Cooked Food Stalls could be gradually eliminated from our streets to be replaced by an increase in the number of restaurants and also the reintroduction of economy and other canteens. I must say at once that these hopes are far from being realized and that the economy and other canteens have been conspicuous by their absence. The whole question of the future of cooked food stalls will have to be reconsidered as a matter of policy in the expanded Hawkers Policy Select Committee.
As regards licensed General Purpose Stall hawkers, in 1966 there were 829; in 1967, 825, and this year there are 820. Here again no new licences for this large type of fixed-pitch stall have been issued, with almost equally severe restrictions on succession. The reason why no new licences are being issued is because the number of hawkers in recent years has become so great that for a long time it has been the policy to issue Fixed-pitch hawker stalls rather than General Purpose Stalls as three fixed-pitch hawkers can hawk in the area of two general purpose stalls. On the other hand again, a number of people say that the area of a fixed-pitch stall, 4 x 3, is not large enough, especially when one considers that fixed pitch stall licences are at present issued as welfare cases recommended by the Director of Social Welfare. Again, this whole policy will be reviewed by the enlarged Hawkers Select Committee.
As regards licensed Fixed Pitch Stall hawkers, under which category I also include tradesmen and static newspaper vendors, in 1966 there were 7,969; in 1967 there were 7,957; and this year there are 7,946. There are a number of persons awaiting licences recommended by the Director of Social Welfare but the present position is that the sites available are, in most cases, not capable of making a decent living, but the Council has to consult with the Commissioner of Police, the Fire Services and the Urban Services Department when considering any new Fixed Pitch licence sites. Again, this must be solved. In my opinion either there should be a whole lot of new sites allocated to this Council or we will have to give up any further issuance of new Fixed Pitch licences and confine ourselves to pedlars who will have particular areas within which to operate.
As regards licensed Pedlars, which term includes itinerant newspaper vendors, in 1966 there were 18,299; in 1967 there were 23,518; and this year 21,327. Most of the licensed pedlar hawkers already hawk from a fixed position either in a bazaar or in the street and the drop this year may be because the average pedlar hawker considers that his licence gives him insufficient benefit and that he can as easily hawk unlicensed.
There is a very large number of unlicensed (and in some cases unlicensable) hawkers, roughly estimated at present to be in the region of 30,000. I am afraid that this unsatisfactory situation will continue until the strength of the Hawker Control Force is raised to a realistic level. The great majority of unlicensed hawkers are pedlar hawkers trading even from static structures. The Police have their own priorities and the control of unlicensed hawkers in other than main streets is far down on their list. The Council, by the Urban Services Department staff, have insufficient men on the ground to ensure the carrying out of the policies that the Hawkers Select Committee has decided upon. I sincerely hope that with the enlarged Hawkers Select Committee this will be changed and we will get the co-operation not only of the Commissioner of Police but also of the Colonial Secretary and the Financial Secretary in assigning to the Urban Services Department the necessary ground staff. When this happens it is my earnest desire that all unlicensed, licensable hawkers, will become licensed and will be accommodated in off and on street hawker bazaars in positions where they can earn a decent living with advantage to themselves and to the public. Our back streets are at present perpetually being filled with hawker litter, the hawkers are perpetually extending their illegal structures mainly because of the extension by the hawker next door, and any interference by anyone is naturally regarded by themselves as intrusion on their tolerated rights.
MR. HU:- Mr. Chairman, I would ask Mr. BERNACCHI, through you, with regard to these 30,000 unlicensed hawkers, would we give them a licence if they applied for it?
MR. BERNACCHI:- If they are hawking acceptable commodities, yes.
CHAIRMAN:- I would like to qualify that statement, Mr. Hu, by saying "if there are suitable sites for them".
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