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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
strongly ask the Select Committee to review the existing policy so that tenants may transfer their tenancy rights before their death because I find the whole thing self contradictory and impractical.
First of all, a tenant who is incapable of running his business in life and therefore hires others to help is not in any way different from one transferring the tenancy to another. It is just a legal point. The fact remains that the tenant is no longer managing the stall in person. The rule is that formal transfer can only be arranged after the death of the tenant. Why is he not allowed to make this transfer in life when he is no longer interested in running a business? I think this is something to be reviewed. Probably the policy was established many years ago or it was a gracious solution to on-street hawkers. There might have been all sorts of reasons, but they are no longer valid today.
The second point is that it is ridiculous to rule that licenses should be transferred to the inheritors of their holders. How many sons inherit their father's business nowadays? It is no longer practical to expect sons to take over the business of their parents. As such, I think the policy is impractical and self contradictory. I strongly ask for a review by the Select Committee to consider approving the transfer of licenses to partners after going through a certain application procedure. Such transfers are permitted for market stalls of the Housing Authority.
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—I promise to take Mr. CHUNG's question to the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee. For changes to a major policy, we must seek the approval of the Committee and then refer the matter to the Whole Council for endorsement. I have noticed too that there are similar cases in other public bodies. Again, I assure Mr. CHUNG that the matter will be discussed at the Select Committee.
IV. MOTIONS
(1) Mr. Ronnie Wong Man-chiu, Chairman of the RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, moved as follows:-
RESOLVED that the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Public Pleasure Grounds) (Amendment of Fourth Schedule) (No. 6) Order 1997 be made under Section 106 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.
He said (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, I rise on the motion standing in my name:
RESOLVED that the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Public Pleasure Grounds) (Amendment of Fourth Schedule) (No. 6) Order 1997 be made under Section 106 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.
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