136
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
hawking, to get rid of hawking for ever more. Well we have had confiscation for 5 years and yet the Hong Kong Annual Report says there was more hawking in 1976 than before, so can you tell me how confiscation has worked such wonders? I think before pretending that it solves the problem you should look into it and see what sort of problem it has solved in 5 years. It does not solve problems but it only causes hardship and people have to go out and borrow more money and continue to hawk. I would like to mention that if you think that getting rid of hawker obstruction is by confiscation, why don't you suggest the same method of confiscating lorries and cars that are illegally parked and blocking up the roads? It is the same problem and why shouldn't there be mandatory confiscation of cars? I cannot see any difference. These are the points raised, Mr. Chairman, and I would like to emphasise that what we want is a reasonable policy on controlling hawkers by putting age limits or higher fines or anything you like, but not confiscation because we must leave the judiciary free to have discretion in cases where the hawker concerned is a case that cannot live by any other method except by hawking.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Thank you. I will now put the motion to your vote. All those in favour of the motion as proposed by Mrs. ELLIOTT and seconded by Mr. BERNACCHI, please raise your hands. 5. All those against the motion, please raise your hands. 13. (Chairman did not vote). The motion is lost.
(The
Page 87 of 174
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
137
ANNEX I
Financial Year No. of Officers sent No. of Officers returned No. of Officers who have been posted in USD (urban areas) since return No. of Officers who are at present posted in USD (urban areas) 1973-74 23 23 23 15 1974-75 26 26 26 18 1975-76 17 17 16 14 1976-77 10 7 7 7 1977-78 13 *2 *2 Total 89 77 74 56*2 officers still on post-course vacation leave
ADJOURNMENT — 5.12 P.M.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 8th November, 1977 at 4 p.m.
Page 87 of 174
Page 88 of 174