HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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Having enumerated our past year's performance in some detail, I shall now proceed to give my observations in a number of areas which are of concern to Members.
C. Response to Members' Speeches
Hawkers, Markets and Public Health
Matters affecting the livelihood of the community continue to be the main-stream of Council's responsibility, as manifested by the number of Members speaking on such subjects as market management, hawker policy, refuse collection, waste disposal, street cleansing and food hygiene. Members have generally expressed concerns, and even disappointment, on Council's existing provision of services and facilities in these areas. Such feelings are not unreasonable, as in a fast developing and increasingly sophisticated society, we should keep up with or even excel citizens' expectations for more advanced and modernised services.
In the past year, Members have offered various suggestions, the majority of which, where appropriate, have been included in the 1996/97 Statement of Aims.
On the subject of market design, we have undertaken to improve or reprovision existing markets and construct new markets by incorporating modern designs and facilities, including installation of air-conditioning for the whole market and adoption of open design with improved stall size and layout.
To improve the management and operation of markets, the district market management teams will conduct regular inspections and strengthen control with particular focus on the problems of market obstruction, stall extension and standard of hygiene.
On enforcement action against illegal hawkers, we hope that the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the Hawker Control Officer grade would be improved in the light of the findings of an overall departmental review of hawker control manpower resources.
As regards the Itinerant Hawker Licence Deletion Policy, due to the still on-going legal action it cannot be implemented on 1 April 1996 as originally planned. Consideration of the matter will have to be deferred until the court action has been completed.
On these and other public and environmental health matters, we shall endeavour to further improve our services. But as regards disposal of domestic waste, an area in which the Council has no jurisdiction, I have to strongly urge the Administration, once again, to take heed of the considered views of our Council on this pressing subject. There is an imminent need to introduce incineration plants as part and parcel of the comprehensive waste disposal policy. The facts are crying out for immediate action by the authorities.
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