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Nevertheless, it is inevitable that hawkers will try to expand their business by placing equipment or commodities outside their hawker pitches, particularly during peak business hours, if and when they can do so without detection. To achieve better control in practice, the Department has painted a yellow line in front of the pitches. Thus if hawking equipment or commodities are found placed beyond that yellow line, the hawkers will be warned to remove the obstructing articles immediately or face prosecution action. The current level of hawker control in Temple Street is considered adequate. General Duties Teams will continue to keep this location under close vigilance and take appropriate action whenever necessary.
As regards the reference to a 'Flower Street' in Mongkok, I assume that this in fact refers to Flower Market Road which has been a traditional location for flower trading activities. Over 40 florist shops are located in this street and its vicinity. The concentration of these shops attracts a large number of customers. In the past, this resulted in a number of lorries and goods vehicles parking in the vicinity causing pavement obstruction and traffic congestion. In fact these problems tended to be more traffic-related than of a hawker obstruction nature. In any event, these problems have been solved through the joint efforts of relevant Government Departments. With effect from 18th August 1992, a new traffic scheme has been introduced at Flower Market Road and its nearby areas, as a result of which:
- all parking meters along Flower Market Road have been cancelled;
- a 24-hour restricted zone along Flower Market Road has been imposed to ensure a free flow of traffic; and
- illegal parking by flower traders and growers along Flower Market Road has been largely eradicated through the imposition of restricted zones.
Since the implementation of the new traffic scheme, the situation has very significantly improved and major congestion and obstruction to traffic and pedestrian flows no longer exists. Nevertheless, the Urban Services Department will continue to monitor the situation closely with other concerned Government Departments and any necessary remedial action will be taken if circumstances dictate.
The second part of the question asks if there is a sufficient presence of hawker control staff in Temple Street. As reported above, the Department deploys adequate staff for hawker control in the vicinity. In addition, the Department is able to count on excellent liaison and co-operation with the District Police whose assistance is always made readily available whenever required. Indeed, in addition to the periodic joint USD/Police operations, there is a police patrol van regularly stationed at the nearby Man Ming Lane so that, in case of need, Police support is on hand and can be immediately obtained.
Finally, this question seeks to draw a parallel between Temple Street, Flower Market Road and the recent tragedy in Lan Kwai Fong. I wish to point out that they are gatherings of entirely different nature, and I am not sure if any meaningful comparison can be drawn.
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People gather daily at Temple Street and Flower Market Road for street trading activities. This should not be confused with the gathering in Lan Kwai Fong which involved a large and high-spirited crowd engaging in new year celebrations. If we wish to draw a parallel, perhaps the Lunar New Year Fairs at Victoria Park and other UC venues, which also attract large crowds, bear greater resemblance to the Lan Kwai Fong gathering. In this regard, Members are aware that through the special arrangements introduced this year and the co-operation of the other departments concerned, our Lunar New Year Fairs all passed off happily without any untoward incidents.
MOTIONS
1.
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:
"RESOLVED that:
(a) a Declaration be made under section 79(1) of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132 to amend further the Declaration of Markets in Urban Council Area first published in the Gazette as Government Notice Number 1620 of 1960; and
(b) the Public Health and Municipal Services (Public Markets) (Designation and Amendment of Tenth Schedule) Order 1993 be made under section 79(3) and (5) of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
He said (in English): Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the motion standing in my name:
'RESOLVED that:
(a) a Declaration be made under section 79(1) of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132 to amend further the Declaration of Markets in Urban Council Area first published in the Gazette as Government Notice Number 1620 of 1960; and
(b) the Public Health and Municipal Services (Public Markets) (Designation and Amendment of Tenth Schedule) Order 1993 be made under section 79(3) and (5) of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
The purpose of the Declaration is to declare Wong Nai Chung Temporary Market as a market to which the principal ordinance applies, and to delete Wong Nai Chung Market from the Schedule under section 79(1) of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132 whereas the Order aims at adding Wong Nai Chung Temporary Market to and deleting Wong Nai Chung Market from the Tenth Schedule to the Ordinance, in compliance of the legal requirement.
Sir, I beg to move.
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MR. MA LEE-WO, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE (in English): Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
2. MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:
'RESOLVED that the Hawker (Urban Council) (Amendment) By-law 1993 be made under section 83A of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
He said (in English): Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the motion standing in my name:
'RESOLVED that the Hawker (Urban Council) (Amendment) By-law 1993 be made under section 83A of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
The Hawker (Urban Council) (Amendment) By-law 1993 revises the fees for hawker licences and for the allocation of fixed pitches with effect from 1st April 1993.
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 proposed fees revision has taken into consideration various factors including:
- the increase in cost for the management of licensed hawkers, estimated at $222.7 million for the year 1993/94; and the deficit incurred by the Council, which will be $162.2 million if the fees are not revised.
- the impact of the fee revision on the financial deficit incurred in controlling licensed hawking, bearing in mind the desirability of containing the extent of this deficit as far as might be practicable; and
- the affordability of the fee increases to those concerned.
The proposed fee increases are moderate. In dollar terms, the revised fees would mean an additional cost of only $0.40 per day for most licensed itinerant hawkers, $1.20 per day for most licensed fixed pitch hawkers, and $7.20 per day for licensed cooked food staff operators. The impact of the fee increases on general price levels will be minuscule.
The revised fees will bring an additional revenue of approximately $5.3 million for a 12-month period and reduce the projected deficit on the management of licensed hawkers to less than $157 million.
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