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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(4) MR. R. H. LOBO asked the following question (in English):
May I know how many summonses have been issued during the past twelve months, and if the "Keep Hong Kong Clean" Campaign Committee is satisfied that the anti-litter wardens are doing their work effectively and efficiently?
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):
Mr. Chairman, the total number of summonses for litter offences issued from the end of March 1973, to the beginning of April 1974, was 35,701.
The present strength of Litter Wardens in the urban area is 65 (in the Territories 22), and whilst their collective performance of duty is not entirely satisfactory to Members of the "Keep Hong Kong Clean" Campaign Committee, the difficulty of measuring performance purely in terms of the number of prosecutions obtained and warning notices, etc. issued, is recognised. Our main objective is to ensure the physical presence of these squads on the streets and in the more popular areas, where they will be a deterrent to littering.
Our greatest dissatisfaction and source of frustration stems from the conditions in hawker areas which earn much public criticism and in which, understandably, our thinly-spread Litter Wardens can have very little effect. Nor can we rely on the Police to assist, as they are occupied in dealing with crime and its prevention. However, the new large General Duties Teams which are scheduled to go into action later this year within hawker concentrations should make a distinct improvement in this field.
Since January 1974, the Urban Services District Officers have been pressing the anti-litter squads for better results. The Wardens have been reminded repeatedly that they represent the principal arm of litter law enforcement and that it is their duty to make known to the public that they will apply the law without fear or favour on all occasions. Some improvement has been noticed, and this pressure will be maintained.
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MR. LOBO (in English):-In view of the fact that the satisfaction and frustration stand out of the hawker areas, has any arrangement been made or any assistance be asked for from the Hawker Control Force Personnel who work in this area?
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman. I feel that perhaps MR. LOBO also knows that, at present, we are understaffed in our Hawker Control Force. Previously our Litter Wardens, when operating in hawker areas, have encountered a few unpleasant incidents mainly because we lack Police support. Therefore, until the present, we seldom send our Squads to hawker concentration areas.
(5) MR. CHARLES C. C. SIN asked the following question (in English):-
Can the Chairman please advise this Council:
(a) What is the number of licensed on-street hawkers? (b) Is there a programme providing for the building of a specified number of hawker bazaars each year to resite licensed on-street hawkers into such bazaars? (c) If there is such a programme, is it being followed diligently?
(d) How many hawker bazaars have been built since 1st April, 1973 to 31st March, 1974, and how many licensed hawkers have been accommodated in these bazaars?
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG, on behalf of MR. HENRY H. L. HU, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-
The number of licensed on-street hawkers throughout the urban area is at present 26,319. This figure includes itinerant licensees understood to be operating on-street. The Public Works Programme for 1974-75 contains 18 hawker bazaar projects in various stages of planning; they will provide accommodation for on-street hawkers. Whilst there is no lack of diligence in pursuing this programme for the provision of hawker bazaars, there is an inhibiting factor in Government's recent rephasing of all public works projects, so that the rate of providing such bazaars is not so fast as this Council could wish for.
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