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was taken?
Could the Chairman also inform the Council whether before reaching such decision did we ever look into the social aspect of the hawker problem?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: --Of course, Mr. Chairman, before I answer this question I might point out that any Member of this Council is entitled to receive minutes of any Select Committee meeting, even though he is not a member of that particular Select Committee. I do it quite often. I am very interested, for instance, in resettlement, and I do get copies of some of the resettlement minutes, and I am sure if Mr. Hu wishes, the department will be happy to send him minutes of all Hawker Management and Policy meetings. Now, to answer the question.
Members will recall that at the last meeting of this Council, Mr. Hu himself made the statement that he understood that new pedlar licences would not be issued until further notice commencing June 1. This position still stands. As members are aware, the Director of Social Welfare is a member of the Hawker Policy Select Committee which made the decision to stop issuing pedlar licences.
The social aspect of hawking was fully considered by the Select Committee and the Urban Services Department before the decision was taken.
MR. BERNACCHI: --As a supplementary, without saying that the decision was in any way bad, was it in order? I remember that the decision to issue unlimited hawker pedlar licences was a Council decision on a Motion proposed by Mr. Y. K. KAN and seconded by me. Can a Select Committee, even a high-powered Select Committee, as the Hawker Policy Select Committee is, alter a Council decision without another Motion?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: --Mr. Chairman, if I were to answer that question I would not be impartial, I would suggest you answer it.
CHAIRMAN: --I would need notice of that question.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: --Mr. Chairman, surely a decision which has been taken by a Select Committee in the name of the Urban Council is a proper decision, and surely, as Chairman, you ought to say so without further consideration?
CHAIRMAN: --I don't know why you referred the question to me then Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: --Mr. Chairman, for the simple reason that, as Chairman of the Select Committee, I would be very partial in saying most definitely that the decision is proper and correct.
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CHAIRMAN: --I would agree with you Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, I merely wanted to check on what Mr. BERNACCHI said about motions.
MR. BERNACCHI: --Can I take it then, as a decision from the Chair, that a Select Committee can alter what has been passed by Motion in full Council?
CHAIRMAN: --I would still need to check on this.
MR. BERNACCHI: --Thank you.
MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. CHEONG-LEEN for the attention to what I said in the last meeting. As a matter of fact, my position is still the same--I still only understand that pedlar hawker licences will not be further issued. What I would ask here, Mr. Chairman, is that did the Committee ever consider whether this was the best course for our hawker problem. Is it a social problem, or is it purely a question of control of hawkers?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: --It is both, Mr. Chairman.
MR. HU: --Are you sure of that? Is it control, or is it a social problem?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: --I said it was "both"--both social and a matter of control.
MR. HU: --You mean half and half. (Laughter). I would like to repeat the question which was asked, but which was not answered--I said that "if so, whether the Social Welfare Department was consulted before such a decision was taken".
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: --Mr. Chairman, the Director of Social Welfare is a Member of the Policy Select Committee, and it is logical to assume that since he raised no objection that this policy has the support of he himself and his department. Does that answer Mr. Hu's question?
MR. HU: --Had you put that answer in writing, I would not have asked supplementary.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, it is in writing.
MR. HU: --I am sorry, I overlooked that. Mr. Chairman, for what reason did the Hawker Select Committee cancel the further issue of pedlar hawker licences?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: It is not cancellation, Mr. Chairman. The decision was that, until further notice, no new pedlar licences would be issued after June 1st.
MR. HU: --For what reason?
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