XN000022-1972-08-15 — Page 4

Tuesday, August 15, 1972

"ILLEGAL HAWKING MUST BE STAMPED OUT"

The proposed legislation aimed at controlling illegal hawkers was today described as "not anti-hawker, but anti-illegal and irresponsible hawking".

The Assistant Director of the Urban Services Department, Mr. Gus Chui,

in a statement elaborating on the new bill, said the success of the hawker policy depends not on penal measures, but on trade co-operation on the part of

law-abiding hawkers,

"No effort will be spared by the authorities to explain the law and its purpose to the hawkers. As a last resort strong measures will still be essential to deal with the incorrigible few. A sanction is not just a means of exercising our responsibility towards the public, it is also protection for legitimate

hawkers."

Mr. Chui said it would be a "gross waste of public funds" to build off-street hawker bazaars to accommodate licensed hawkers only to find that they were being suffocated by illegal hawking on the streets around them.

"I am afraid that illegal hawking must be stamped out, but illegal

hawkers will be looked after by Public Assistance if they are incapable of working because of age or physical debility. On the other hand, it is high time that the able-bodied ones should see the writing on the wall and look for a job

and there are plenty of vacancies to be filled by those prepared

elsewhere

to do an honest day's work," he added.

Mr. Chui said