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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The second question is on review and whether as early as possible' denotes a specific date. I can say to Mr. CHAN that the matter will be discussed at the coming meeting of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee. As members present know, we have urged the Department many times for the preparation of a paper on the review of the itinerant hawkers policy so that we can discuss it and make a decision. I believe that in less than 2 months, there will be answer. The outcome will depend on the result of our discussion.
MR. CHRISTOPHER CHUNG SHU-KUN (in Cantonese):—My questions are all about 'dead stalls' in markets. Some of my questions were already asked by Mr. CHEUNG and some were already answered. Last of all, I would like to ask if the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee will consider changing the use of 'dead stalls' by converting them into offices or stands for security staff, or even as store rooms. In this way, the number of 'dead stalls' will be reduced.
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—If Mr. CHUNG'S point is on conditional conversion for commercial or other use, we are considering it. For example, we have recently decided to convert one storey of the market in Mong Kok (the Fa Yuen Street Market) into a bowling alley and another part into a staff common room. Improvement work will have to be carried out. However, for some ‘dead stalls' which are very small in area, there will be some difficulties in converting them into offices. As we all know, one of the reasons why some of these stalls are not good for business is their small area. There is not enough storage space so that one will have to put goods outside. The feasibility of converting such stalls into offices is not good. If there is space for conversion as described in the example I just quoted, we have done it. The best thing to do may be to combine pairs of stalls. If there is a vacant stall and another in business next to it, one way out may be to lease out the vacant one to the neighbouring stall operator as well.
MR. KAM NAI-WAI (in Cantonese):—Mr. LEE Kwok-keung mentioned one point related to the report by the Director of Audit. The Chairman of the Select Committee replied that it would be discussed later. I am aware that the report by the Director of Audit was completed in September 1996. May I ask Mr. IP as the Chairman of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee when that report was received? In the past half-year, there were discussions on the problem of vacant market stalls. There is strong criticism as well as some suggestions in that report on this aspect. The Director of Urban Services Department already responded to it. When did you, as the Chairman of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee, receive that report?
The second question is about the timing when you became aware that the Urban Services Department had received that report. I think we got the report this month. From September 1996 to this month, there was a gap of half a year. We only have the report now. Why can't we make immediate response?
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