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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
out trials with larger bins which could be used to replace the baskets in which refuse is now stored at refuse collection points awaiting collection. The use of bins in this way may speed up loading and help to improve the environment but there are some practical problems to be overcome and these are still being examined.
In addition, the Department is looking into the possible use of other forms of mechanized equipment for refuse collection including compacting devices and the consolidation of refuse in plastic bags or disposable containers.
MR. SHUM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I am told that there are 33 mechanical road sweepers, would 33 mechanical road sweepers be enough for all our roads, all our highways and super highways?
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):-Although I haven't got the figures off-hand, I am sure the number of 33 would have to be increased due to the increase of our road spaces, and I can tell Mr. SHUM that the rate or percentage of our refuse collection vehicles has improved quite a lot during the past eight or ten years and we also tried shift system and that shows that we have taken consideration of all aspects.
MR. SHUM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I understand that USD has introduced the use of bigger refuse bins. Since then, we have found that they are suitable, why we have dropped that proposal?
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):-This is only a new idea. I am sure Mr. SHUM knows that the bins are much more expensive than the refuse baskets and we are not sure whether refuse bins will be welcome by the local residents because refuse baskets have advantages as well. But I think that our approach is correct in that all our future equipment will be more convenient or even more beautiful and would alleviate the offensive aspect to the local residents. I can assure Mr. SHUM that if we find the trial successful, then we will adopt the proposal.
MR. YOUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, Dr. HUANG mentioned that the USD has 278 vehicles which could collect refuse in vehicles access places. Have we found any instances where the collection point for our refuse collection vehicles are used for other purposes?
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I don't quite understand what Mr. YOUNG meant, but I think that, should there be vehicles parked at places which are not supposed to be a parking space, I am sure the police should be able to prosecute them.
4. MR. AMBROSE K. C. CHOI asked the following question (in Cantonese): Since the Council stopped issuing newspaper hawker licences in 1967, I should be grateful to know what the Council is doing to meet the demand of the newspaper trade, bearing in mind that the urban population has grown considerably since 1967 and with it the need for more newspaper sellers?
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MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS & STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns action by the Council to meet the demand for more sites for newspaper hawkers.
The Council discontinued the issue of new licences to newspaper hawkers in April 1972 and not in 1967. This was in line with the Council's general policy at that time which was to stop the issue of new hawker licences altogether.
At present, there are 1051 licensed fixed pitch newspaper hawkers and itinerant newspaper hawkers in the urban areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon and about 300 unlicensed newspaper hawkers.
From time to time, the Council has considered whether additional newspaper hawkers should be licensed and, most recently, the Markets & Street Traders Select Committee discussed the problem in September 1980. At that time, the Select Committee decided that the existing policy should remain in force and no new newspaper hawker licences should be issued. There were several reasons for this. Firstly, it is very difficult to find suitable and viable new sites for the sale of newspapers and, if sites can be found, they are required to accommodate existing licensed hawkers who have to be resited for various reasons. Secondly, it is sometimes suggested that the sites occupied by unlicensed newspaper vendors should simply be licensed. However, these sites are seldom suitable for use as licensed fixed pitch sites. It has to be remembered that most newspaper hawkers sell not only newspapers but also magazines. Consequently, the sites occupied by newspaper hawkers often take up more space than is authorized and enforcement problems are created. Thirdly, the creation of additional newspaper pitches on pavements is always at the expense of the public, and tends to obstruct pedestrian traffic.
Apart from this objection, newspapers can also be bought at MTR stations, ferry concourse and elsewhere. It is the view of the Council that the provision of additional kiosks should be encouraged and there are plans to include them in new market buildings although this is experimental.
To sum up, the creation of additional pitches for newspaper hawkers may cause obstruction, may lead to objection from shopowners and others whose premises would be affected and is unlikely to be acceptable to the traffic authorities. In addition, the licensing of additional hawkers is contrary to the Council's policy of reducing the number of on-street hawkers whenever possible and of confining hawking to areas where it will be least objectionable and contrary to the public interest.
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