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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. SHUM (in Cantonese):----Mr. Chairman, I try to sum up the views. Nearly everybody is for the increase in the number of market complexes. This will be our ultimate goal. But as I've just said, this cannot be done in a day. Apart from the financial resources, there is also land resources. As this cannot be done immediately, the thing to do is to control hawkers. As the population of Hong Kong is increasing, the problem of hawkers is also increasing. So let us not put the blame on the G.D. Teams. I personally think they are doing a marvelous job. As the number of hawkers are increasing so quickly, what should be done? If you have any good suggestions, I am all for them. I welcome suggestions from any Urban Councillor and also from the public. This to me is not an isolated problem but a social problem. The problem still with us is the question of license and unlicense. The Council does not want to increase the number of hawkers but to contain the hawkers' growth. As we cannot contain the growth, the re-ordering exercise will have to continue, and how successful we shall be, will have to be monitored. We have a problem, and we must try to find a way out. We do not think that the cost incurred is a waste. If we cannot get the financial resources from the hawkers, then we must think of some other means. To be fair we should not get it from the taxpayers' pocket. Even with the increase, the Urban Council subsidy is still 57%, i.e. the hawkers only pay 43% with this increase licence fees. So, supposing the licensed and unlicensed hawkers share the burden by half, then in the management and control of G.D. Teams, we are still getting a large percentage from taxation. If you think that the licensed hawkers are subsidizing the unlicensed hawkers, please make it clear that it is the taxpayers who are subsidizing the hawkers and in this increase, it is very reasonable. Please give me your support.
The question was put.
The motion was carried with 15 votes for, 2 against and 2 abstentions. (The Chairman did not vote.)
ADJOURNMENT
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5.10 p.m.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-That concludes the business of today's meeting. The Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 11 January 1983 at 2.30 p.m.
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