1941-08-08 — Page 5

HONGKONG DAILY PRESS

HAWKER PROBLEM AIRED AT COUNCIL MEETING

Proposal For Appointment Of Special Committee To Investigate Not Accepted

TRIBUTE TO GEN. GRASETT

EFFICIENT STATE OF

H.K. DEFENCES

GENERAL

SUBSIDY CODES FOR SCHOOLS

Council Reply To Question

QUESTIONS BY HON. MR. M. K. LO TO after being General Officer Com- sidy Codes for schoots.

BE REFERRED BACK TO URBAN BODY

At the meeting of que Legislative Counef yesterday afternoon, the Warm tribute to the services Hon. Mr. R. R. Todd (Financial rendered to the Colony by Major Secretary) replied to a question General A. E. Grasett, C.B., D.S.O., asked by the Hon. Mr. Li Tse-fong M.C., who recently sailed for Home regarding the new Grant and Sub-

manding since 1938, was paid and Mr. Li's question was. With re- a welcome to HE. Major-General gard to the new Grant and Sub- C. M. Maltby, M.C., was extended sidy Codes for schools which have by His Excellency the dovernor, been recently approved by the Se- se Geoffry Northcote, at the meet- cretary of State. W uvverbment ing of the Legislative Council yes- take steps to make the necessary terday afternoon.

financial provisions to bring them Into effect from Sept, 1, 1941?

The piled

Financial Secretary re-

VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE COMPLEX HAWKER PROBLEM IN THE COLONY WERE DEALT WITH BY FOUR SPEAKERS, INCLUD. ING HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR GEOFFRY NORTH- COTE. AT THE MEETING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. YES- TERDAY AFTERNOON when a proposal by the HON. MR. M. K. LO for the formation of a special committer of investigation was not ac- HE. the Governor said:-

Since this Counell met last the cepted by the Government, it being stated by the COLONIAL SEC- RETARY HON. MR. N. L SMITH that Government did not think

honourable and gallant officer who aby useful purpose could be served by accepting the proposal.

for more than three years sat as Consequent upon the receipt of The Urban Counell, sald the of the whole question, and em-senior official Member has left the the Secretary of State's general Colonial Secretary, was entrusted phasises the destrability of ap-Colony and his successor alts in approval of the new Grant and

his place.

Subsidy Codes, which was tele- with the whole control of hawking pointing a committee.

tau anofficial

Excellency As the objection of the Urban His and that body had an

Major-General graphed on June 25, 1941,

Education has already majority with strong Chinese re- Council to food hawkers is based' A. E. Grasett served this Colony Board presentation while it possesses a solely on public health 1 readily notably both within and without on July 18 recommended action The highly efficient on the lines of the Honourable large trained and qualified staff adinit my incompetence in mak- this Counell, and health and sanitary officers Ing any expert contribution to state of the military d. fences of Member's present question.

discussion of this which are at its service in investi-the

matter. Hongkong is very largely due As regards the Subsidies for Ver- Kaling and reporting O actual But I do venture to make a few his great energy and soldiery skin, nacular Schools this presents nu conditions under which hawkers] general observations from the, and throughout his service here difficulty as the appropriate finan- pursue their calling.

point of view of a layman. Ad- he gave most valuable help and clal provision had been made in of some kinds advice upon the organisation of, the current Estimates and this has questions raised by the mittedly, the sale sendor Chinese onofficial Member food must be totally prohibit the civil defences of the Colony already received the Government's In the motion would be referred) d This has already been done and when occasion arose he spoke approval.

The

ta

to the Urban Counell for As the Chairman of the Urban wisely and forcibly in this Counen back further consideration of the whole Connell observed at the meeting Chamber. Inatter as it was felt that sUMIC above referred to "she exposure constructive schine for the leed ing of the potret sections of the population m'grl evolved. Mr L In the course speech, sald he doubted whether these

of

UNSPARING LABOURS ior sale of cut or peeled fruit is

Both as Governor of Hongkong definitely prohibited under special anti-cholera bye-laws, and though and as President of this Council

The question of Graus-u-Ald

is a less simple one. As far as ear be estimated at present the imple-

the mentation of

new Code as from Sept. 1, 1941, will involve a Supplementary Vote of consider-

Governmens cannot assume at the

of his we must also take action against I tender to him the Government's ably more than $400,000 and the

who offend. we need not and the Council's grateful thanks

terests

the tutal abniltloa hawkers include them in the present dis- for, and appreciation of his un-present stage the concurrence of cussion," We can therefore con-sparing labours in the Colony's in- could be brought about and that to abolish eeners would be to Brie ourselves to other types of

Heood such as

We welcome la his place Major congee, tea and increase anlicensed hawkers.

bean curd and General C. M. Maltby in whom I complained that the Urban Coun- cakes, puddings,

am confident we shall find A ell looked at the problem solely ther cooked foods.

worthy successor to Major-General from the public health point of

Grasett. view which was wrong and with which view His Excellency ex- pressed entire agreement with Mr. LD.

HAWKERS' PATHONS

hawkers

the Finance Committee of this Council for such an expenditure and cannot therefore give an at- firmative reply to the Honourable Member's question in this respect. The matter will, however, be fur- ther examined without delay. I feel that it should be remem- Hon. Mr. J. J. Paterson:-May

PLAN FOR EDUCATION. bered that the people who buy I, Str, senior unofficial Member, articles from

generally on behalf of the Counell, say how

of The report. the Hongkong occupy such houses cubicles. bed much we all appreciate all that Education Department, tabled in spaces and surroundings in which, Major-General Grasett has done Legislative Council yesterday after- the hygienic ideal aimed at by a for us and to wish him the vernoon, reveals that ten-year plan body like the Urban Counch can-best of good forture in his new has been drawn up and approved not be attained. Would the pro-job.

by the Board of Education, pro- innumerable blem be solved. If i could be en- Hon. Mr. M. K Lo-Bir, or be-viding ultimately for 50 schools by sured that food is bought in half of my Chinese colleagues on (20 urban schools to accommodate hawkers. and after considering clean shop, when in fact It is this Council and myself, I desire about 7,200 children, and 30 rural kept, cooked and eaten in a place to associate ourselves with the tri-schools to accommodate from 2,500

In proposing the resolution. Mr.

Lo said:

HON. MR. LO

As the result of

representations made

to US

the matter in all its aspects, my

colleagues and I feel that the time in which contaminated water. bute paid to Major-General Gra- to 3,000 children).

has now arrived when the whole question of the hawking system should be considered by a com. mittee. hence the Motion stand- ing in my name

dust, dirt and flies abound? Is sett.

there really a substantial danger

to public health by the BALE of

The provision of playgrounds for schools in the urban districts, it is added, is another development of equal urgency.

The expenditure of the Educa- the period

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 1941.

PACE 5

5000 YDS.

OF QUALITY FABRICS JUST ARRIVED FROM LEADING AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS-

HANDSOME BROCADES, AND BROCATEL-

LES, DAMASKS, AND ART SILKS. A

WONDERFUL ASSORTMENT OF DESIGNS

AND COLOURBAN ASSORTMENT THAT

PLEASE EVEN THE MOST

DISCRIMINATING OF CONNOISSEURS. IN

COLOURINGS OF

WILL

EGOSHELL ROSE,

RED, PLUM, RUST GREEN, GOLD AND BLUE.

INSPECTION

WELCOMED

LANE • CRAWFORD • LTD.

The House of Quality & Service

25292522525252525252525EASE

2,874 PRISONERS DAILY

The report of the Commissioner

the first quarter of 1941, tabled

in Legislative Council yesterday. states that the year has been one

against long struggle

the evil

nch articles to the partienlar March 10, 1938, enclosing a copy class of persons who patronise of my Memorandum), stating that May 1. Sir, at the very outset. hawkers? In any case could not it had been seen by my colleagues tion Department for say quite clearly that in bringing such danger be safeguarded

by the Hon. Sir Robert (then Dr. E. from Jan. 1, 1940. to Mar. 31, 1941. of Prisons for the year 1940, and this matter before this Counell proper Supervision?

H.) Kotewall, Hon. Mr. T, N. Chau was $2,492,856.46 against $1,938,- we have not the sightest desire i

and Hon. Dr. Li Shu Fax, and 522.68 for the year 1939. to show ally disrespect to the

that I was authorised by them to Urban Council We do so because

state that they concurred in the we feel that the hawker problem

views expressed in my Memoran- Involves serious questions of eco- nomics and polley, and should be a matter for the Government the Colony rather than for a sta- tutory body charged with certain statutory duties,

of

I observe from the Press report úf the recent meeting of the Urban Council held on June 17. 1941 that my Honourable friend Mr. W. J. Carrie. as Chairman of that Council, urged the meeting "to approach this

As a layman I must confess to some doubt as to whether the sale of such cooked food does constitute a danger to public health: I have no doubl that any such danger can be avoided by efficient supervi- slon and control, especially with éo-operation from li- censed hawkers. I may that full co-operation has been earnestly promised by the hawkers, and that I am satisfied that they will do their utmost to co-operate,

hortation, admirable as it is from But public health is only

say

to

dum. In my Memorandum I set Council in Aprly 1937, in which he effects of overcrowding due out in detail my observations on observed that the reduction of the abnormal conditions which have, and criticisms of the Hon. Mr. hawker Heences was a matter for of course, aggravated the miser- that able poverty of the majority of 1 do not congratulation "were it not Todd's Memorandum. desire to weary ints Council with My work in another sphere has the Chinese from which the pri-

We have son population contres. out in convinced me that all views as set my humble that Memorandum, but I should done is to add two thousand or so like to quote the concluding para- to the ranks of unlicensed food in defence measures by the manu- graph thereof;--

stum hawkers, where they do more facture of articles required by the "24. My present opinion is that harm than before while paying military authorities and by sup- there should be no restriction, nothing to Government."

BRIBERY AND SQUEEZE

and that

The

Prison industries have assisted

plying convict labour for digging trenches, levelling camp sites and In point of fact are there not whatever in regard to the exist

on anti-malarial work.. matter solely hawkers of food in Britain and ing classes of hawking

wholesale bribery and

The dally averages of prisoners trom the point of view of custo-America--and in their large ci- applications for licences should be squeeze in regard to hawkers are in prison during the period were: dians of public health." This ex-tles?

'considered from the point of view well known to every member of

Hongkong Prison: Male 2,538; one that the hawking system IS a this Counell: We have seen various Victoria Remand Prison: Male 151; the point of view of the Urban aspect of this matter. In the substitute for Poor Law, 1.e. -prosecutionis, in the Police Courts, Lai Chi Kok Prison: Female 185. Council, emphasises the plea course of the Memorandum pre-'cences should be issued only to but these.. prosecutions--or even Total 2,874. now make that the matter should pared by my Honourable friend people who, by reason of age, In-convictions-only touch the fringe be considered by a committee Mr. R. R. Todd, the then Chair Armity, absence of support, etc. of the problem. Is it sound policy which can look at the problem, man of the Urban Connell, which have no alternative of earning a to drive a man to unlicensed not only from the point of view was referred to in appreciative lving other than by hawking, but hawking, or to even worse forms of public health, but from other terms by my Honourable friend with the important proviso of a of crime, which must be the in- important aspects of this ques-Mr. Carrie at the meeting of the definite residence qualification inevitable concomitant of any dras-

Urban Council on June 17 last, the Colony for a minimum period. tic reduction

At yesterday's meeting of the abolition of T GOVT. EATING HOUSES

Legislative Council, on the motion Mr. Todd advanced five argu- For reasons already indicated licences? the Urban ments against (of which one only cannot believe that there is any

The other question is a much of the Attorney General (Hon. Mr. As I understand it, Council has decided that as from was based on public health), and

real or serious objection to the more serious one, and it goes to Alabaster), the amendment Sept. 1, 1941 there shall be no three for itinerant hawkers. The hawking of food, even under the the root of the statutory com-made by the Urban Council under Honourable Mr. R. R. Todd cer- new class 7. But the Urban Coun-petence of the Urban Council: In section 5. of the Public Health: cooked food by itinerary hawkers, tally appreciated that the pro- i will of course take such special regard to the policy It has (Food) Ordinance, 1935, on the 2nd day of July, 1941, to the by-laws and that as regards cooked food blem was a complex one, and. I

At the same meeting of the under the heading "Slaughter- stalls, licences for these are to be submit that it should not be measures as may be necessary in adopted.

houses and sub-heading "Gener-

tion.

further

licences for the sale O

URBAN COUNCIL AMENDMENTS

reduced by 20 per cent. each year looked at "solely from the point respect of the hawking of special rban Council, already referred to al" and the amendments to the for the text five years, bringing a of view of custodians of pubile classes of food during periods of so many times, the Hon Mr. |

total abolition of cooked

stalls at the end of five years,

health."

food

FORMER VIEWS --

I gather from the Press that

1934 RESOLUTION

TAKE OATHS

His Excellency, Major-General' Christopher, Michael Maltby, MO., moral Officer Commanding, and the Hon. Mr. dgar Davidson took the Oaths of Allegiance at the

epidemics or threatened epidemies, Carrie paid a well-deserved tribute by-laws under the heading "Res- as it has done in the past.”

to my friend Dr. L Shu Fan as taurants, Eating Houses and Food TWO FURTHER QUESTIONS

the proposer of the Resolutions Stalls, contained in the Schedule The Hon. Mr. W. J. Carrie, at the

There are, however, two further which resulted in the Hawkers to that Ordinance were approved. Chairman of the Urban the same meeting of the Urban

questions In thy Memorandum Ordinance of 1935 being passed, by Council is considering the ques- Council, referred to an interview tion of establishing Government which he had with the Chinese Which I feel I must mention to which the licensing and control op eating houses, to be staffed by Member of Councis. Frankly I day. The first is the economic of hawkers was transferred from NEW L. C. MEMBERS ex-hawkers, but that in any case have no recollection of the do one of supply and demand. My the Police Department to the such a scheme cannot be brought talls or result of the interview, for own conviction is that when the Urban Counell, Into operation until next year. I kept no notes. I do riot think hawking farket has reached. a What is going to happen to the any one can reasonably object to saturation point I, doubt whether

The wording of the 1934 Resoly Hawkers between Sept. 1, and the any scheme aimed at the gradual there will be many new application, proposed by Dr. Li Shui Fan, Inauguration of these Government reduction and ultimate abolition tions for licences. If the satura is of great importance. It is as eating houses has not been made of food hawking, if such a scheme tion point has not been reached I follows! clear. But, in any case, any such could be carried out without in- have no doubt that hawkers,

(a) That it is the opinion or meeting of the Legislative Counell scheme is surely a matter for volving serious injury to the haw consed or unlicensed, will respond this Board that, in the Interest of yesterday afternoon, Government. At this stage 1 ab- kora. But, I have on my nie copy to the call of economic demand: pubic health and with the view to stain from commeriting, on this of a Memorandum which I pro in other words, can hawking be the prevention of diednes, it ta scheme. But I submit that the pared, in answer to the Hon. Mr. effectively abolished? I doubt it. desirable myel ME KAO Ying, former President of mere fact that such a scheme has Todd's Memorandum of July 27, in this connexion I would like to 'been suggested as a partial solu- 1936, and copy of a letter which refer to a minute addressed by tion of the problem of unemploy. I addressed to the Hon, the Eds- one of the Urban Council's officials ed hawkers showa the complexity rotary for Chinese Attalra dated to the Chairman of the Urban

The Executive Tung appointed

(1) that restaurants, eating the Kiangsu Tanchers Collone. stalle, stalls for the sale of cook, Wasih, as President of the Nation-

ed Tobd, promises for the sale of ii Kwingel Univäráity, replacing.

Continued Page 8. Cöl 2 Mr. Lol Pel-hun

Furnishing

Department

1941

Tel. 28151,

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