XN000022-1984-08-05 — Page 7

SUNDAY, AUGUST 5, 1984

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DB MEMBERS BACK TOUGH STANCE ON HAWKER ACCIDENTS

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URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS CONSULTED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL'S WORKING PARTY TO REVIEW HAWKER AND RELATED POLICIES ARE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISING NUMBER OF HAWKER ACCIDENTS, IN PARTICULAR THE DEATH OF AN 80-YEAR-OLD WOMAN KNOCKED DOWN IN SHAM SHUI PO AND THE DANGER CAUSED BY COOKED-FOOD HAWKERS USING BOILING COOKING FAT.

AND WHLE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS HAVE A LARGE RANGE OF VIEWS ON THE HAWKER PROBLEM, AND HOW TO AMELIORATE IT. THEY ARE IN WIDE BUT NOT OF COURSE ÚNANIMOUS AGREEMENT THAT THE COUNCIL IS RIGHT TO CONTINUE TO ORDER STEPPED-UP ACTION AGAINST HAWKERS.

VIEWS EXPRESSED BY DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AT RECENT MEETINGS WITH THE COUNCIL'S WORKING PARTY WERE DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING OF THE COUNCIL'S DISTRICT RELATIONS SELECT COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY MISS CECILIA YEUNG,

SOME OF THESE VIEWS INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING:

* THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN +TOO LENIENT+ WITH HAWKERS. STRINGENT

CONTROLS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED TO +DRIVE THEM BACK TO THE FACTORIES. IN THIS RESPECT, HONG KONG SHOULD FOLLOW THE TOUGH EXAMPLE OF SINGAPORE.

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HAWKING NOT ONLY DISCOURAGED YOUNG PEOPLE FROM TAKING UP WORK IN FACTORIES, BUT ALSO ENCOURAGE THEM NOT TO PURSUE A PROPER EDUCATION BECAUSE IN THE SHORT TERM HAWKERS COULD MAKE AN EASY LIVING.

* IT WAS GENERALLY ACCEPTED THAT HAWKERS CREATED NUISANCES AND OBSTRUCTIONS AND AFFECTED LEGITIMATE TRADERS THEREFORE THEY SHOULD BE +DRIVEN OFF THE STREETS.+

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DRASTIC ACTION HAD TO BE TAKEN URGENTLY AGAINST COOKED-FOOD HAWKERS NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE DANGER TO PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE MENACE TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

HAWKERS PROVIDE UNFAIR COMPETITION AGAINST TAX-PAYING AND RATE-PAYING SHOPKEEPERS. IN NO WAY SHOULD THE AUTHORITIES CONSIDER GIVING ILLEGAL HAWKERS ANY LEGITIMATE STANDING BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH OF TIME THEY HAD BEEN ILLEGAL HAWKERS.

BESIDES TOTALLY BANNING COOKED-FOOD HAWKERS, THE COUNCIL SHOULD BAN ALL HAWKERS SELLING CUT FRUIT, FOR HEALTH REASONS. AND MORE ACTION SHOULD ALSO BE TAKEN AGAINST HAWKERS SELLING MEAT.

* PEOPLE WHO PATRONISED ILLEGAL HAWKERS, PARTICULARLY COOKED-

FOOD HAWKERS, SHOULD BE PENALISED FOR ALDING AND ABETTING OBSTRUCTION AND ILLEGAL TRADING.

HAWKER OFFENDERS