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The first part of the question concerns the tactics in tackling unlicensed hawkers and suggests that tactical patrol should be conducted to issue summonses in order to enhance efficiency. For the purpose of effective hawker control, operational staff adopt enforcement tactics flexibly in that action both in the form of summonses and arrests is regularly taken according to the resources and situation on the ground. For instance, summonses are issued to offenders for unlicensed hawking within UC parks and pleasure grounds and also where appropriate, to on-street licensed hawkers for breach of minor offences.

Nevertheless, experience has shown that arrest action generally tends to be a more effective deterrent for hawker control purposes than the issuing of summonses. The key advantage of arrest action over summonses is that hawkers will be immediately removed from the scene of offence and in the case of unlicensed hawking, it may also lead to mandatory forfeiture of the seized articles in addition to any fine imposed upon conviction of the offence. In view of the above, the Department will continue to apply operational tactics flexibly and will take appropriate enforcement action both in the form of summonses and arrests depending on the particular circumstances.

The second part asks how the Department counteracts the 'scouting' activities of illegal hawkers. It is true that illegal hawkers sometimes try to spy and keep track of the movements of the hawker control teams, particularly before their operation. They set look-out posts and use sophisticated communications equipment to provide early warning to enable hawkers to take flight before the arrival of the raiding squads. To counteract this, the Department has taken a number of operational measures to reduce the opportunities for leakage of information about hawker control operations. For obvious reasons, I cannot elaborate on those measures in public.

With regard to measures against bugging, the Department has been maintaining close liaison with the Director of Telecommunications and would refer cases, where appropriate, to him for investigation and necessary action. Meanwhile, the Department is continuing to replace the old radio communication equipment with new model ones with a view to improving communication among hawker control staff. It is difficult to totally wipe out bugging because you know that police communication equipment is also subject to bugging.

The last part of the question is concerned with triad infiltration in hawkers. Both this Department and the Police are very concerned about the involvement of triad elements in hawking activities and the matter is regularly brought up for discussion and close monitoring at liaison meetings between senior officers of both Departments. Whenever hawker control staff are intimidated by people who claim to be triad members, or confronted by hawkers who may have a triad background, reports are made immediately to the Police for their investigation and action. The Department has very strong support from the Police and arrests in this respect have been made as a result of reports made by the hawker control staff. In an area where trouble is anticipated, active Police participation in hawker control enforcement actions will be requested. Police response is always positive and, resources permitting, joint operations are regularly conducted at hawker blackspots known to be under the control of triad elements.

It is considered that the present arrangements and liaisons between the Department and the Police are adequate and effective. We are grateful to the Police for their assistance and count on their continuing co-operation and support.

(4) MR. MA LEE-WO asked the following question (in Cantonese):—Since the opening of the Hong Kong Stadium in March, the residents nearby have never ceased complaining about the noise created by the concerts. I would like to ask:

(a) How many complaints have been received from the residents?

(b) How many summonses has the Environmental Protection Department issued to Wembley International (HK) Limited?

(c) Have all the noise control measures been implemented? How effective are they?

(d) Does the Board of Governors consider it unsuitable for the Stadium to stage concerts again?

(e) How many provisional bookings for concerts are there for the period between May and December? Has the Board of Governors decided to reject the applications of such events?

MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG, MEMBER OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows (in English): The question is in five parts and I will answer each of them separately.

The first part of the question is on the number of complaints received from the residents. According to the EPD and the Police, a total of 687 complaints were received from the residents during 10 March - 24 April 1994.

The second part of the question is on the number of summonses issued by the Noise Control Authority to Wembley International (HK) Limited. Wembley has received four summonses.

Part three of the question asks whether all noise control measures have been implemented and how effective they are. All the technical remedial measures announced on 30th March 1994 at the UC Press Conference were in place by 22nd April 1994. The only measure which required improvement was the in-house public address system which needed further fine-tuning. This will be completed by mid-May.

Noise monitoring reports produced by EPD and Wembley indicated a general reduction in noise level as compared with pop concerts held earlier on at

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