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ing the charge of obstruction? Is it possible to sell newspapers on any pavement without causing some obstruction?
MR. CHARLES C. C. SIN, Vice-Chairman OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (In English):-
Without full details of the particular case, it is not possible to comment adequately since the question does not indicate the manner or degree of the obstruction.
The maximum permissible area of any pitch is 12 sq. ft. (as decided by the Hawker Management Select Committee in July 1970), but it is also possible for a person to be allocated a site of only 6 sq. ft. or even less depending on the particular site. When a hawker obtains his licence he is informed of the exact area within which he may operate and where this is smaller than the maximum, details are endorsed on the licence. If he does not confine his activities within his designated site, he can be liable to be summonsed to appear in court for obstruction.
Some obstruction is often inevitable when a newspaper site is located on a pavement—the extent of the obstruction varying with the width of the pavement or the amount of pedestrian traffic. But if hawkers try their best to stay within the limits of their pitches, a certain degree of obstruction is in practice normally accepted. It should be stated hawking outside designated pitches constitutes one of the major hawking offences, especially on streets where there is heavy pedestrian traffic or where the pavement is narrow.
MRS. ELLIOTT (In English):-Mr. Chairman, I gave one example, but as a matter of fact I have several complaints of this kind. So may I ask if it is possible to demarcate the area so that the person cannot be accused of obstruction when he is actually carrying out the Council's instructions.
CHAIRMAN (In English):-I think the department will be studying this in the very near future, Mrs. ELLIOTT. All pitches will have to be demarcated.
(6) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-
(a) In view of the Clean Hong Kong Campaign and its special emphasis on clearing hawker rubbish, what steps are
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being taken to provide water in Government off-street bazaars?
(b) Is it correct that a new temporary poultry bazaar in the Tung Tau Resettlement Estate has no water supply? If so, does this conform to health regulations?
MR. CHARLES C. C. SIN, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (In English):-
A mains water supply is a standard requirement in all new bazaars and where appropriate, as in the case of cooked food stall bazaars, operators are required to have individual metered connections. Action is in hand to bring wherever possible the old bazaars, which have not already been provided with water, up to standard.
With regard to the temporary poultry bazaar referred to in the question, no permanent water supply has been laid on specifically for the use of the hawkers due to the temporary nature of the bazaar. A supply is, however, available from a standpipe in a nearby wash area.
MRS. ELLIOTT (In English):-Mr. Chairman, I have a number of supplementaries on that. May I ask, first of all, if "nearby wash area" refers to a resettlement block wash area and, if it does, do you want chicken feathers and so on inside the wash area?
MR. SIN (In English):-Mr. Chairman, I understand that the wash area is about 70 to 80 feet away.
MRS. ELLIOTT (In English):-I am sorry, Mr. Chairman, I am glad to hear that, I mean I am glad to have that answer; but I didn't ask that question. (Laughter). I am asking if you are referring to a wash area, are you referring to a resettlement block wash area; and if so, do we want chicken feathers inside the resettlement wash area where people are supposed to be washing clothes or getting a bath or whatever they use it for?
CHAIRMAN (In English):-Certainly not, Mrs. ELLIOTT. I would think one would expect the hawkers to take the water from the area to wherever they are operating, not bring their poultry into the wash area.
MRS. ELLIOTT (In English):-Mr. Chairman, this is a temporary bazaar, can we know how temporary, how long is it going to be?
CHAIRMAN (In English):-The best I can do with this one, Mrs. ELLIOTT, is to say it is temporary until we can find another site.
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