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Reply:
Records of the Urban Services Department indicate that there has been a decline in both the licensed and unlicensed hawker population in the urban area over the past few years. The number of licensed hawkers has reduced from 12,300 in 1992 to less than 11,000 at the end of 1994, primarily as a result of Urban Council policies designed to reduce the licensed hawker population in the urban area. Informal headcounts of unlicensed hawkers in the urban area also indicate a reduction of approximately 1,000 over the same period
In order to control hawker activity more effectively, the Urban Council and the Urban Services Department have recently put in hand a number of measures. These include the phasing out of the whole category of itinerant hawker licence by 1 April 1996 which will further reduce the licensed hawking population. In addition, a new grade of Hawker Control Officer in the Urban Services Department has been introduced in the middle of 1994 to better manage the urban hawking population. Regional Task Forces of Hawker Control Officers have also been established recently to enhance the capacity of the Department to conduct surprise raids on hawker black spots and to reinforce district-based hawker control teams. Plans are in hand to expand the two Task Forces later this year.
End/Wednesday, February 15, 1995
Methadone clinics accessible to drug abusers
Following is a question by the Hon Mrs Peggy Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
As methadone treatment centres are located in residential areas, they not only pose threats to the environment but also have become crime black spots. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council whether :
(a)
J
crime rates are on an upward trend over the past two years in areas where methadone treatment centres are located; and