Page 404 of 498
448
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
words, the above figures have included enforcement personnel of both task forces (district and regional).
The second question concerns machinery. I cannot give an answer today on the rank of the responsible officers, but I can say for certain that it would be someone of Superintendent grade or above. As to whether investigations are conducted by regional staff (namely the Assistant Director of Kowloon or Hong Kong Island Region), I cannot tell you for sure at this stage. I am certain that someone above the rank of Superintendent is responsible for investigations.
The last question concerns whether cases have been referred to the Independent Commission Against Corcorruption for investigations. As we have not discovered any signs of impropriety or premature leakage of information as mentioned before, the Department has not referred any case to the Independent Commission Against Corruption for investigations. If Mr. Lee thinks there is a need to do so, we will get back to the Select Committee for deliberation.
(2) MR. STANLEY NG Wing-fai asked the following question:-'I am very concerned about vacant stalls and rental levels in Urban Council Public Markets and have the following questions:
(a) How many market stalls were vacant in the past 3 years (i.e. 1994–96)? What is the duration (in terms of month) that each stall was left vacant?
(b) How much total rental loss was incurred by the Council due to market stalls being left vacant in the past three years?
(c) What are the reasons for the market stall vacancies? Is it because market stalls are reserved for selection by the itinerant hawker licence holders?
(d) What measures are adopted by the Department to improve the current vacant situation?"
Mr. Ip Kwok-chung, Chairman OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-This four-part question concerns the vacancy situation in UC markets and the measures being taken by the Department to improve the situation. The first part enquires the number of stalls that were vacant in the past 3 years and the duration that they have been left vacant.
The number of vacant market stalls and their vacancy rates in the past 3 years are as follows:
No. of Stalls Provided No. of Vacant Stalls Vacancy Rate (as at 31.3.94) 10 044 1 360 13.5% (as at 31.3.95) 10 036 1 523 15.2% (as at 31.3.96) 10 246 1 649 16.1%Page 404
448
404 of 498