HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(6) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-
(a) What reduction is expected in the population of the Shek Kip Mei, Lei Cheng Uk and Tai Hang Tung Estates, after the decantation operation to Pak Tin Estate? (b) What is the estimated increase in the number of hawkers in the above three estates, since 1967? How many of these hawkers sell food for man?
(c) What influence are the above factors likely to have upon trade in the shops of these estates? Was account taken of these factors in the recent decision to raise rents?
(Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG left the meeting at this point).
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows: ---
Sir, approximately 3,500 people will be moved to Pak Tin Estate from the old estates of Shek Kip Mei, Lei Cheng Uk and Tai Hang Tung. The total population of these estates is 156,000, that is the overall population will be reduced by a little over 2%. The greater number of people to be decanted will be moved from Shek Kip Mei Estate which immediately adjoins Pak Tin.
A departmental survey carried out in January 1967 recorded 1,500 hawkers in the three estates. A further survey in August 1968 recorded only 1,150 hawkers. These figures must be treated with reserve, as numbers tend to vary at different times during any day. But, in the old closed estates, the numbers of hawkers have tended to level off to meet the fairly constant public demand for their goods, and the indications are that there has been no increase in hawkers during the last two years or so in these estates. There are no figures of the number of "food-for-man" hawkers in 1967, but the figures for August 1968 showed that they were a little under 100, mainly in Lei Cheng Uk and Shek Kip Mei Estates.
There is no record that these factors were taken into account before the shop rents in these estates were increased; there is a reference to hawkers in the minutes of the Select Committee meeting in question but this was not apparently pursued. It is difficult to assess what effect they would have. The effect of the decantation is likely to be marginal. It appears to be unlikely that the competition from hawkers in these estates has increased; and the general effect of hawkers on trade in shops is variable and may in some cases even be beneficial.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MRS. ELLIOTT: --Mr. Chairman, is the Commissioner aware that shopkeepers in Shek Kip Mei have petitioned against the raising of the rent on the grounds that they can hardly operate their shops because of the number of meat hawkers?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:—I was aware that there had been petitions, but I must confess that I was not aware they had complained specifically of the effect of meat hawkers. I should perhaps add, as Mrs. ELLIOTT is aware, there is a regular system of re-grading of shops, and any shop that is adversely affected by hawkers could come within that scheme and qualify for their shop to be re-graded.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, could I then ask the Commissioner if he would bring before the Policy and Management Select Committees the point that any estate which has a sort of glut of meat hawkers, and I might mention Shek Kip Mei and Tsz Wan Shan, I know there are others, but these are ones I know best, might they consider stopping any rise in rents until the hawker problem is dealt with?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: I will certainly bring this matter before the two Select Committees concerned, Mr. Chairman.
(7) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:
Have any proper arrangements been made for hawkers in the Pak Tin Estate?
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKER POLICY SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
Approximately 34,000 sq. ft. have been included in this Estate for hawker bazaars. This provision is somewhat in excess of 1 acre per 100,000 domestic units, and on the present space allocation for hawkers will provide for up to 600 sites. With a planned population for the Estate of 57,400, the provision of 600 hawker sites represents a ratio of 1 site to 95 people which is markedly better than the previous normal standard of 1 site to 150 people.
The layout of the first bazaar between Blocks 4 and 6 is now being planned and 144 sites will be provided here. The first intake into Blocks 4, 5 and 6 will comprise some 6,300 people so that the ratio of hawker sites to population will be approximately 1 to 44.
It is however all very well to say what the Urban Council is providing for hawkers in this or any other estate, it is
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