TNAG-1359-FCO40-1800-Executive-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-meet-1985 — Page 63

Annex E

English translation of the Chinese letter at encl.

Letter to : Dr. J.W. Hayes, RSNT

From

Date

Subject

Text

Chairman & Vice-Chairmen, NT General Chamber of Commerce

: 1st February 1985

Review of Hawker Licence and Pitch Fees in the New Territories

We acknowledge receipt on 9th January 1985 of your letter dated 2nd January 1985 (Ref. LM to CNTA/DS/CON/8/2) on the above subject. After discussion this matter at a joint meeting of our Executive and Supervisory Committees and, after consulting the local Chambers of Commerce, we would like to propose that the

The reasona increase should not exceed 15% of the existing fees.

are stated as follows

1.

2....

NT licenced hawkers have their own fixed pitches and most of them do exercise strict self-discipline. It is envisaged that the additions? manporer required will be mainly used for the control of unlicenced hawkers only. The licenced hawkers thus find it unacceptable your rationale for increasing the fees because the amount to be increased will not be spent on them.

The

According to statistics published by the Census and Statistics Department, the retail prices of durable consumer goods and goodstuff have dropped by 2% and the volume of retail sales has decreased by 1%. actual wage index in wholesale/retail, import and export, restaurants/hotels and personal services have dropped by 0.1% and 2.1%. As the spending power of the general public has dwindled, the business of hawkers is directly affected. The increase is set at such a high rate as 35%, out the Government is of the view that

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