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themselves to payment of fines each time they have committed an offence for illegal parking or obstruction which they have most reluctantly done so, because of parking space not available at the time around the area although they have tried in vain to find one.
About September next year, the cross-harbour tunnel will be completed and open for traffic. By that time there will be a more alarming shortage of car parks in Hong Kong, causing traffic jams in all thoroughfares. It will then be too late if no action is taken now to solve the problem.
With these remarks and suggestions Mr. Chairman, I take pleasure to support the motion. (Applause).
MR. PETER P. F. CHAN:- Mr. Chairman, this afternoon, I wish to comment on two subjects.
The Urban Council has always been criticized in its apparent inefficiency in handling the hawkers problem. The public has never shown any real appreciation for the hard work that had been done by the chairmen of the two select committees, our colleagues and the Urban Services Department, in spite of the fact that there had been some improvements after some clearing operations. This Council and the Urban Services Department, in my opinion, do deserve thanks from the public for handling or attempting to solve this problem of hawkers especially when our hands are tied financially, when there is an acute shortage of manpower and when we do not appear to have any up-to-date legislation. The matter is worsened because there is a lack of communication with the public on what we have done, what we are planning to do and on the complexity of the problem. The public, for instance, does not know that one operator of a cooked food stall flew back from London by B.O.A.C. and back (before reduction of the price of air tickets) solely for the purpose of renewing his licence in person. The public never realize that some cooked food operators offered to purchase a bank building simply because they wanted to remain where they were, while we tried to resite them to the opposite side of the street.
Of course, these were rare and isolated cases, but it is enough to show that in some cases, it is really big business, involving big operators. It is totally wrong to treat them all as welfare cases who need public assistance and yet desire to earn a living as a hawker.
It is true that we do not have enough men on the ground to keep an area or a street clear after a clearing operation. We usually found ourselves in trouble when we removed some legal hawkers to clear a street for public use, while illegal hawkers filled the vacuum when the Hawker Control Force turned away. It is very common to see shops being completely blocked by hawkers. The shopkeepers have to close down or are being forced to go partnership with the hawkers.
Every one agrees that hawking is a part of life in Hong Kong. It is our civic duty to take good care of this section of the community but it is also our obligation that we should give consideration to the other users of our streets.
I think that there should be some kind of hawkers tribunal where hawkers may appeal and at the same time where proceedings may be heard against the hawkers by members of the public. Representatives of hawkers may sit on such tribunal to hear statements regarding the conduct of the members of their own profession. This may perhaps bring results and will assure the public that there is always fair play and will allow the public to assess the work of this Council and the Urban Services Department.
Regarding the White Paper on the Urban Council, with respect, there is at least a point in which I do not give my agreement. During the past three and a half years in this Council I do consider that it has been a pleasure in working with the Officials therefore I do not like to see an Urban Council without them. I think that it would be easier to get things done when the Officials are present. Through meetings of this Council and through meetings of Select Committees it is easier to communicate with them than to approach them after the Council makes its decisions. I agree that at times they might have been embarrassed by questions but as far as I can see they have been capable to handle them with ease on many occasions but with good humour always. Therefore I certainly agree with paragraph 8 of the memorandum by the members of the Civic Association on the White Paper.
Another point is the Urban Council would be given certain amount of financing at its disposal and such financing would be a percentage on the rates. In my opinion rates do not fluctuate in any appreciable proportion with the economic development of Hong Kong and very soon we may find ourselves an obligation to raise it to match the projects in various sections of activities of which we are responsible. I think therefore that a percentage of taxes under the Inland Revenue Ordinance would be more appropriate rather than a percentage of the rates.
Referring to Mr. Raymond Y. K. KAN's speech in the operation of the private cemeteries, may I assure him that there is at least one which has published audited accounts for over 30 years and which has never been prejudiced by any allegation from members of the public on squeezing money in any form even in the name of charity from families of the dead in times of grief.
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