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The hawker problem is unlikely to disappear with an upturn in the economy as hawkers were prevalent even during our boom years. Since hawkers will continue to be with us, there must be orderly control of their activities, otherwise the community as a whole would suffer. I voted against the establishment of Hawker Permitted Areas because I did not agree with the first come first serve basis nor that residential areas would be thrown wide open to hawkers and that control should be subsequently imposed. The first favours the strong against the weak and the second invites pandemonium. It is always easier to relax restrictions whereas it is difficult to create order out of chaos.
Whilst I am sympathetic with people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own, but because of retrenchment in a recession, and that they should be given an opportunity to make a living from hawking, I firmly believe that their activities should not drastically infringe upon the rights of others.
The Council runs many playgrounds and open spaces set in the midst of high density population areas. I suggest that a survey be carried out on their usage and suspect that some of these grounds are not heavily used all the time and that sections of them, for instance, a mini soccer field could be released at stated hours in the evenings and converted into temporary hawker bazaars, without too much inconvenience to people seeking recreation. Pitches can be marked out and hawkers licensed to trade within these specified areas on a yearly basis. Spaces to be allotted by drawing lots. In this way, Hawker Permitted Areas could be gradually phased out.
This is not a new idea. It is merely an extension of the evening hawker bazaar by the Macau Ferry Wharves where the area is a car park by day and a bazaar by night. The formula has worked well there for many years and it is also effectively used in Singapore.
Finally, departing from the purview of the Council, I would like to take this opportunity to speak again on the subject of abortion.
As the law now stands a pregnancy can only be terminated if in the opinion of two doctors its continuance would involve risk to the physical and mental health of the mother. I urge that the scope should be widened to permit legal abortion at the request of the mother. We have seen two years of recession. During this period, how many women had conceived and had to resort to back street abortions in spite of grave health risks in order not to have an extra mouth to feed. In cases of pregnancy resulting from rape, on humanitarian grounds alone, the victims should be entitled to abortion as of right. I therefore make a plea to the Legislative Council that when they consider Section 47A
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of the Offences Against the Person Ordinance which is due to be reviewed before the 31st March of this year, they would take the opportunity to incorporate these amendments into our Laws.
Finally, having heard the speeches of fellow Councillors at this Annual Debate, I would like to take this opportunity to express my views on the Urban Council. To my mind, the Council should combine talk with practical action. Violent criticism alone without carrying out constructive work is useless. Also as far as the aims and the work of the Council are concerned, there should not be any distinction between elected and appointed members. It is our duty to co-operate and combine our efforts in the service of the Community.
With these words, Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
MR. HENRY H. O. LUK (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, my dear colleagues, first of all, I apologize because I came in very late. I have a few points to make. Firstly, on the things which the Urban Council can do and which are helpful to the community, I hope that Urban Council can promote a "polite campaign". Many Government Departments are criticized by the community that the civil servants are fairly rude and I know that it is being improved. But judging from the "Keep Hong Kong Clean" Campaign for the last two years, I know that it is quite a success. I also know that during the last two years, those in-charge of the Campaign had some conflict with the community. It is very difficult to say who started to be rude, but a storm in a tea-cup has become a real storm. Let me give an example. A teacher from a school led some students on a trip to Lantau Island and they had conflicts with those in-charge of the Campaign. They had to go to the Police Station and missed the last boat back to Hong Kong and they made a complaint. What started this whole matter? I think it is because they had some conflict or some misunderstanding and whether they had thrown some cigarette butts on the road is very difficult to know. If we can concentrate on this aspect, then not only can we minimize the unnecessary conflict, but also the matters could die down. As we are in a very congested city and human relationships are very bad already. People are getting angry easily, so I think such a campaign would be in the benefit of most of the community and, of course, Urban Council is closely connected with the daily life of the community. I think it is necessary for the Urban Council to lead such a campaign and also influence other Government departments to improve their attitudes towards the community so that the relationship between the Government and the people could be improved. I think it is necessary to do so.
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