TNAG-1359-FCO40-1800-Executive-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-meet-1985 — Page 58

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2. The Hawkers Associations also resented the unreasonable

100% increase in rents of market stalls. For example,

the cooked-food stalls in Tuen Mun recently received

a notice from the NT Services Department, stating that upon the expiry of the three-years lease of their

stalls in the cooked food market, the rent will be increased yearly, from $1,020 on 1st February 1985

to $4080 in 1987. The increase rate is alarming and

the operators are required to sign agreements on 4th February. Is there any difference between the

rate of increase in the rents of cooked food stalls and

the proposed increase of pitch fees? It is hoped that the authorities concerned will give an explanation to

this.

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3. Hawkers help to promote the prosperity of markets.

The licence and pitch fees should be non-profit

making and should be kept as low as possible so as to

lessen the burden of the licencees. Deficits occurring the

management expenses should not be covered by the increases of charges. The feasible solutions should be opening

more sources of income, cutting down expenses and

sacking redundant staff.

The

The Kuk proposes that the departments concerned should explain, as early as possible, the standard of the increase rate of licence and pitch fees, and requests a

temporarily suspension of rents in the markets. government should fix a date for such a meeting and the Kuk will invite representatives of hawkers in different parts of the NT to attend the meeting to

seek a solution to the problem.

Please consider the opinions of the Hawkers Associations.

Enclosed

herewith are the photocopies of the opinion papers of the hawkers associations

and the letter of reply from Mr. Tsang Shing-chiu of the N.T. Service Department.

2.C. CNTA/08/COM/70/56