HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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strong opposition from the residents. But to date, a lot of members are asking for more RCPs in Mong Kok in this meeting. I would like to ask Mr. Pao whether the Public Health Select Committee can ask the relevant DB to agree to build more RCPs in suitable locations?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese): I would like to thank Mr. LAU for his point. We would like to build more RCPs. However, when we consult the DB on this, undoubtedly, we will face strong oppositions and criticisms. So that is why I hope that the Urban Councillors from the Mong Kok District can play a very important role in this matter.
4. MS. ANNA TANG KING-YUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese): In recent months, there are often foreigners trading as illegal hawkers in such busy locations as Star Ferry Concourse and Causeway Bay. This has an adverse effect on our city amenity and may give visitors from abroad a bad impression that Hong Kong is a disorderly city. These foreign illegal hawkers come from Pakistan, Nepal, Italy and other countries. They mainly sell small ornaments contained in leather cases. On seeing the approach of General Duties Teams, these foreign hawkers will hold the leather cases in their hands as visitors. This issue has caused public concern. I would like to raise the following questions: (1) What plans does the Urban Services Department have in hand to tackle these foreign illegal hawkers?
(2) Has the Department considered strengthening liaison with the Immigration Department on this issue so that once foreign visitors are prosecuted for illegal hawking, they will be given warnings or refused entry next time? (3) In their enforcement actions, have the General Duties Teams encountered any difficulties in language communication that resulted in non-prosecution?
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-Ms. TANG's three-part question concerns problems being caused by foreigners trading illegally as hawkers. The Department's policies and procedures for dealing with foreign hawkers are basically no different than those for local illegal street traders. A person who commits the offence of unlicensed hawking is subject to arrest and prosecution regardless of from where he or she may originate. GDT priorities are determined by the seriousness of the hawker situation and the environmental nuisances caused especially obstruction to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Admittedly, foreigners who resort to illegal hawking are often more noticeable because of their different look and because they usually choose high-profile tourist areas in which to trade, but they do not create more serious obstruction problems than local hawkers and in comparison with the total illegal hawker population, the scale of such activity by foreigners is relatively small. Nevertheless, they are regularly subject to enforcement action, and in 1991 for example, a total of 270 foreign hawkers were arrested by the Department.
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