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CHAIRMAN (in English):—Mr. BERNACCHI, he did say acceptable to all.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):—Well, I definitely make a difference. Another supplementary. Has any research been undertaken into the cost of more GDT squads being formed?
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—I would like to have the Department provided the information to Mr. BERNACCHI. I am sure that the sum should not be negligible and I am sure this information would be useful to him in his other role of Chairman of the Finance Select Committee.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):—Thank you.
MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, regarding the reply given by Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN as to whether the situation is acceptable or not, The illegal hawkers on the flyovers are actually creating a very serious nuisance. If the Eastern District Board can represent the residents in Eastern District, then the situation is unacceptable. In fact this question has been raised a number of times. In other words, on the flyover to the entrance of the MTR, the situation is very serious, particularly on holidays and public holidays. On a number of open forums including this open meeting, this question has been raised since the situation is very serious and the manpower is insufficient to handle the problems. The problem also happens at many MTR exits. My question is whether the MTR should share some responsibilities so that the problem can be resolved satisfactorily?
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I do appreciate the strong concern of Mr. MAN Sai-cheong. It is not a situation about which the Committee is very much unaware of the problem. His suggestion is whether the MTR should share some responsibility, I think those views could be referred to the Select Committee for discussion. But whether or not it would lead to any constructive improvement of the situation, we shall have to find out. I appreciate his concern and we should take it up with the Department. But let me repeat, Mr. Chairman, not only the Eastern district, but every district wants additional GDT squads and I have mentioned that it is difficult to recruit staff, there is a question of finance involved and I did mention that the numbers of staff involved in hawker control are not small, it is 2600 people. So let us remember as much as we would like to get more GDT squads, there is a limit to what can be done. But I can assure Members that the Department is trying its very best to keep the situation under control in all the ten districts. So from that point, the Committee considers the situation is acceptable. It is in that sense, we must look at it.
MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, may I ask Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN the following question. Could we consider Mr. BERNACCHI'S suggestion that we should try to protect all markets to make sure that they are viable and not affected by hawkers nearby and the cost for provision of GDT squads can be added onto the rental of the market stalls. We shall not add burdens to the rate payers. The users should pay the additional cost because they are the ones who earn money. So could the Chairman of the Select Committee, Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN, undertake to consider this?
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I know the GDT squads which are assigned to markets are to protect the viability of markets, so that their viability remains high. All that is part of the overall cost of management, but we shall review the situation.
MISS CHRISTINA Y. C. TING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I am talking about the Eastern district and Chai Wan. Mr. MAN Sai-cheong has already expressed part of what I want to say. But Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN said a moment ago that if we want to have two additional GDT squads in Chai Wan, then the situation in Chun Yeung Street and Marble Road would be affected. Actually the situation in these two streets is in fact even more serious. The Eastern District Board have discussed time and again. We hope that there will be two markets in 1992 and by then the situation can be improved so we are asking people to be more patient. If we deploy two squads to Chai Wan then the situation in Chun Yeung Street and Marble Road will deteriorate. I hope that this will not be done at the expense of Chun Yeung Street and Marble Road. In other words, redeployment should not be done within the Eastern District.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Dr. Tu, I think you are going to ask a supplementary. As the Chairman of the Working Party, you might be able to add a little to what Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN has said. As Chairman, I would leave it to you to call on any member of the Council to clarify and elucidate further, perhaps you would like to say something.
DR. ELSIE TU (in English):—Mr. Chairman, the Working Party is pressing on the point all the time. Even yesterday, we have brought up the matter and we are going to continue pressing as to how the GDT squads are going to improve their performance, how the Department is going to improve their training. This is something in which we all are interested. The question I am going to ask is could the Chairman of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee assure this Council that equal consideration be given to all hawker black spots and there will be no priority for Chai Wan and that the whole urban area will be given equal treatment.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I give Dr. Elsie Tu my full assurance on that point. In the light of that answer, I think the situation in Chai Wan is relatively acceptable.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):—I think perhaps personal statement is necessary. In my question, I ask 'Could consideration be given to having two
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