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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The introduction of a 12 per cent increase in slaughter fee should have only slight effect on the fresh meat retail prices. Assuming that the fee increase would be passed on to the consumers, it will result in a small retail increase of 9.4 cents per kg (5.7 cents per catty) in the case of pork and 19 cents per kg (11.9 cents per catty) in the case of beef.
Sir, I beg to move.
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, seconded the motion (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
2. MR. LO KING-MAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion (in English):—
RESOLVED that the Public Health and Municipal Services (Civic Centre) (Amendment of Thirteenth Schedule) Order 1990 be made under Section 105M of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132
Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Culture Select Committee, I rise to move the motion standing in my name:
'RESOLVED that the Public Health and Municipal Services (Civic Centres) (Amendment of Thirteenth Schedule) Order 1990 be made under Section 105M of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132'
The purpose of this Order is to declare the Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre to be a 'civic centre' under Section 105M of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance by adding this Centre to the Thirteenth Schedule. This will empower the Authority, in this case the Urban Council itself, to manage the Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre in accordance with the other relevant sections of the Ordinance.
Sir, I beg to move.
MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE SELECT COMMITTEE, seconded the motion (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
3. MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion (in English):—
RESOLVED that the Hawker (Urban Council) (Amendment) By-laws 1990 be made under section 83A of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the motion standing in my name. The Hawker (Urban Council) (Amendment) By-laws 1990 revise the fees for hawker licences and for the allocation of fixed pitches with effect from 1 September 1990. The new fees for the issue and renewal of hawker licences are shown under Part I of the amended schedule to the principal by-laws, while the new fees for the allocation of fixed pitches are shown under Part III of the same schedule.
The revenue from hawker licence and pitch fees meets only a minor portion of the full cost for the administration of the issue of licences and for the management of licensed hawkers. The Urban Council's subsidy for 1990-91 towards the administration and control of licensed hawkers will amount to 60%.
An increase of 17% across-the-board on licence and pitch fees is proposed having regard to the need to recover the same percentage increase in the cost for the administration and control of licensed hawkers. Temporary licence fees will be increased from $250 to $300, and duplicate licence fees from $160 to $190. No change is proposed for Itinerant (Mobile Van) Hawker Licence, because the annual fee of $19,000 is already high enough as compared with those for other categories. Such exception is considered fair and reasonable based on the time and effort entailed in administering this type of hawker licence and the comparative business potential of its operation.
Compared with the rate of fee increases in previous years, i.e. 70% in 1987, compounded over 4 years since 1983 (which is equivalent to an average annual increase of 14%), 5.3% in 1988 and 12.3% in 1989, the proposed increase is considered reasonable having regard to the need to recover the percentage increase in the cost for the administration and control of licensed hawkers.
Overall, the fee increase will bring an increase in revenue of $7.5 million for a 12-month period.
The revised hawker licence and pitch fees now proposed, Mr. Chairman, have been agreed by the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee, the Finance Select Committee and the Standing Committee of the Whole Council. It will take effect on 1 September this year.
Sir, with these remarks, I beg to move.
MR. LAM CHAK-PIU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, seconded the motion (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU (in English):—Mr. Chairman, indeed I am very concerned about the outstanding 4,700 itinerant hawkers who have not been given fixed pitches. I urge Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN and his Select Committee to pay special attention to this. With these remarks, I support the motion.
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