4
QUESTIONS
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
1. MR. L. H. KWAN asked the following question (in Cantonese):---
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 16 of 195
MR. HOWARD YOUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, since the answer implies that this area will be used in excess of 12 months and therefore possibly eligible for roofing, may I ask whether in view of the fact that these people are trading in a precious commodity and therefore probably engaged in a lucrative trade, we will
(a) Last year, the hawkers in the jade market at Reclamation Street and Kansu Street in Yau Ma Tei requested for the erection of coverings over the pitches. Has any consideration been given to the request and would the Council put up coverings for these hawkers to shield them from the sun and rain?
(b) If the Council would not consider putting up coverings for these hawkers, would they be allowed to erect the coverings themselves?
(c) What is the Council's prevailing policy in respect of the erection of covering over hawker pitches?
MRS. E. ELLIOTT, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-The answer to the first and second part of the question is that consideration is being given to the request of the jade hawkers for the provision of a roof over the Jade Hawker Bazaar at Reclamation Street and Kansu Street. Discussions are being held between the jade hawkers, District Office (Yau Ma Tei) and the Urban Services Department as to the best means of providing the roof, which has to comply with all building and safety regulations. The possibility of allowing the hawkers to erect the roof themselves is only one of the options being examined. Once a proposal is finalized, a submission will be made to the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee for consideration.
With regard to the third part of the question, roofs are not generally provided by the Council for hawker pitches. Hawkers may, however, be granted permission to erect shades themselves and at their own expense. For pitches in hawker bazaars, roofs may be provided by the Council if the bazaars have a likely expectancy of more than twelve months.
MR. L. H. KWAN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, can I ask whether the hawkers in Kansu Street and Reclamation Street do have an expectancy over 12 months, so that they may be allowed to erect their own awnings or coverings, if necessary?
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):---Mr. Chairman, there is a problem in that area because it is not an ordinary bazaar or market and they have been using umbrellas. I have a complaint myself from the hawkers, as apparently they have been allowed to use umbrellas and there is a danger of blowing over on that corner when the wind blows. They may hurt pedestrians and that is why some special consideration is being given. It is not an ordinary bazaar area because they only go there during the day and they do not have permanent structures, but this matter is being considered and I hope that an announcement will be made very soon.
MR. HOWARD YOUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, since the answer implies that this area will be used in excess of 12 months and therefore possibly eligible for roofing, may I ask whether in view of the fact that these people are trading in a precious commodity and therefore probably engaged in a lucrative trade, we will but financed and paid in full by the hawkers themselves?
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):--Mr. Chairman, this bazaar is not an ordinary bazaar that you can close up, it is a public street and that is the problem. I do not know how we can close up a public street, lock it up or so on, and this is one of the problems we have to sort out between the department and the jade hawkers. The problem has been known for a long time but a decision had not yet been reached. As you know, I have just taken over as chairman here and I can promise Mr. YOUNG that I will bring this matter up at the next meeting of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee to see how far we have got with a decision.
2. MR. WALTER M. SULKE asked the following question (in English):— I refer to the experiment in which the U.S.D. proved that the Public Cargo Handling areas can be kept clean if they are cleaned twice daily and metal skips are used for refuse collection. As both Wan Chai and Yau Ma Tei District Boards have justifiably complained about the state of these Cargo Handling areas, has it been explained to them that this is entirely the responsibility of the Marine Department, and that the Marine Department charges for the use of the cargo handling area and therefore can easily recover the cost for cleaning them? Can I assume that everything is being done to push the Marine Department into properly cleaning up these eyesores?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, Vice-chairman of the ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-The question refers to the experimental scheme of Cleansing of Public Cargo Handling Areas by U.S.D. staff, and enquires whether the Wan Chai and Yau Ma Tei District Boards have been informed that cleansing these areas is the responsibility of Marine Department, and asks for an assurance that everything possible is being done to persuade the Marine Department to fulfil their duties to keep the place tidy and clean.
At the Clean Hong Kong Committee Meeting on 16 February 1985 at which the Chairman of the Environmental Improvement Committee of the Sham Shui Po District Board was present, it was stressed that Cleansing of Public Cargo Handling Areas is the sole responsibility of the Marine Department. A letter was subsequently sent on 5 March 1985 to all Chairmen of the Environmental Improvement Committees of the urban District Board informing them in details of the views and attitudes expressed by the Clean Hong Kong Committee.