1962 — Page 123

150

230

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Page 123 of 150

231

QUESTIONS.

MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-

Will the Chairman please state the number of Hawker Control Force normally deployed in Kowloon and New Kowloon? How does it relate to the estimated number of hawkers there? What is the position on the Island?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

Excluding personnel under training, the total uniformed strength of the Hawker Control Force is at present 313 officers and men. These are posted as follows:

Force Headquarters

3 officers and men

Hong Kong Island Kowloon

207 officers and men

New Kowloon

103 officers and men

nil

The total number of hawkers in the urban area is not known, but the figure is believed to be somewhere in the region of 50,000, distributed roughly in the following proportions:

Hong Kong Island Kowloon

New Kowloon

20,000

15,000

15,000

Many hawkers have one or more persons to assist them. It is possible therefore that the total number of persons engaged in hawking in the urban area at peak periods may exceed 100,000.

Since there are large numbers of hawkers operating from dawn until about 11.00 p.m. including Sundays and Public Holidays, the Hawker Control Force is compelled to operate on a two-shift basis. It follows from this that at any one time the Force has only about 155 personnel on duty to look after something like 100,000 people, which would give an overall ratio of 1 constable to 650 hawkers if the Hawker Control Force were deployed evenly over the whole of the urban area. This ratio has been found too low to permit of effective control, and it has therefore been the policy to concentrate the Force in certain parts of the city only. It is partly for this reason, and partly because of lack of accommodation, that no Hawker Control Force personnel have yet been deployed in New Kowloon.

1

I appreciate, Sir, that it is desirable to extend Hawker Control Force operations to New Kowloon, and also to more areas in Kowloon. As a start, plans are now being drawn up to deploy a small number of Hawker Control Force per- sonnel in the Kowloon City area within the next few weeks. They will be referred to the Hawkers Select Com- mittee for consideration shortly.

DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, a supplementary question. How do you come by this approximate estimation of hawkers in Kowloon and New Kowloon?

CHAIRMAN:-By counting them, I believe.

DR. BELL: But, Mr. Chairman, you said you do not know the total number of hawkers.

CHAIRMAN: I said that the total number of hawkers is believed to be about 50,000.

DR. BELL:-Is that not a low figure?

CHAIRMAN: I do not think so.

DR. BELL :-When you estimate a figure of 50,000 are you counting those only with licences as far as you know, or those without licences?

CHAIRMAN: -All hawkers-those with or without licences.

DR. BELL:And you think that despite the population of Kowloon being in the proportion of about 3: 1 to the Island, the Island has actually almost the same number of hawkers as Kowloon, and in fact almost the same as Kowloon and New Kowloon together?

CHAIRMAN: So I am advised.

MR. SALES: ----Mr. Chairman, will you please assure Members from Kowloon that the disparity in control which is exercised over hawkers on the Island and the mainland is not due to the fact that the Hawkers Select Committee does not have in its membership any member from Kowloon? Is that the reason for the obvious discrimination against us because there is no member from Kowloon serving on the Hawkers Select Committee? (Laughter).

CHAIRMAN: ---Sir, I am sure that there is no intention to discriminate against Kowloon. Perhaps the Chairman of the Hawkers Select Com- mittee would like to say something on the subject. (Laughter).

MR. BERNACCHI:-I would like to have notice of the question. (Laughter).