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Coming to the point about pedlars, these people who pay their licence fees are expected to hawk and earn their living at the risk of violating our outmoded by-laws. The unlimited issue of such licences has made it increasingly difficult for them to earn a decent living. In order to contain the large number of these pedlars, the hawker bazaar was introduced. However, unrealistically a very huge number is confined to a single bazaar. In the Kowloon City Market Bazaar, for example, there are 700 pedlars. Can anyone imagine how in this bazaar all can make a living by selling one commodity - fresh vegetables? By my own calculation, if each of these pedlars is to earn ten dollars a day, the total amount of turnover per day has to be in the region of $40,000. Is this actually possible? Mr. Chairman, I sympathize with these people and certainly they are justified for discontent.
I am one of the three signatories in the first Hawker Report, but I wish to know from the department how closely have the policies given in this particular report been followed. If the Council insists that the Hawker Control Force is to enforce the by-laws, it is about time to have a fresh look at them, some of which are quite unnecessary. These by-laws should be simplified so that the hawkers may know what they have to observe.
To be more realistic, I suggest that there should be ten hawker areas in accordance with the ward boundaries. In each of these areas there should be a maximum quota for each of the three kinds of hawkers. The quota of each would depend on the number of good and valuable spaces available. Allocation of stalls and issue of pedlars' licences should be valid only at the specified area; and licences should not be issued when all the sites have been occupied. This will enable much easier control, particularly when each area is being supervised by the ward members.
During the last few years, the market programme has been re-activated because of the acute shortage of hawker bazaars. This is primarily to incorporate the pedlars into the markets. While I have no objection to the building of new markets or re-conditioning of old ones, I do have concern for the market stall-holders. For they are unable to compete with the fresh provision shops around the market which does make the market unpopular. Unpopular markets will have discontented hawkers. If market bazaars are to operate successfully at all, some restrictions have to be imposed on the siting of these provision shops. We would not like to see markets later converted into recreation areas as has already happened to one of our new markets.
My Committee on Health Education recommends that more health inspectors be sent to the University of London for the professional Diploma in Health Education. The concept of health education has greatly changed and many new methods have been devised. The programme covering the various aspects of this sphere is extremely extensive. At present, the scope under the Urban Council is rather restricted and this section is under the control of a senior health inspector. I am very grateful to the Education Department and the Government Information Services for helping us launch the various campaigns. One of the obstacles experienced by my committee is the limited terms of reference. The sphere of activity is strictly limited and the officers in charge are at a loss as to what is within and what is not within these terms of reference. Most unfortunately Government has rejected our request to be fully in charge of the whole programme of Health Education in the Colony. Mr. Chairman, this is a typical example of the stubbornness on the part of Government by not yielding to any request from the Council, even on such a simple matter. The public has thus lost the opportunity of learning what Government may consider unimportant, some simple sanitary and hygienic practices which are so essential in the preservation of life.
Mr. Chairman, I have much pleasure in supporting the Motion before the Council. (Applause).
MR. D. J. R. BLAKER :—Mr. Chairman, I am afraid that my comments today will be rather shorter, and of an unaccustomed moderation, due to the fact that I have been ill for the last month.
There has been talk recently of developing local government, in particular by expanding the functions of this Council. I am very much in favour of steps being taken in this direction, and for a very good reason. The disturbances last year had one beneficial result in that they have certainly produced an increased civic awareness. I think this is very much to be welcomed and to be encouraged. If our citizens can be persuaded to take a greater interest in community affairs and acquire a greater sense of participation, I am sure that a more contented and more settled society will result. One way to encourage this increased interest in community affairs is by gradually expanding the activities of our Council, as I think can now well be done. I believe that this would result in greater interest being taken in its activities, and in time in a greater willingness to vote for elections to the Council. I doubt whether we can aspire to any real sense of Hong Kong nationality, but I do think that we can, in this way amongst others, gradually achieve a greater civic identity. I hope that the forthcoming year will see progress in expanding the Urban Council's activities to this end.
The need for an ombudsman has been mentioned here before. Many opinions have been given that we need such an institution. But no reply has escaped the pursed lips of Government as to why we do
271
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Page 147 of 243
270
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Coming to the point about pedlars, these people who pay their licence fees are expected to hawk and earn their living at the risk of violating our outmoded by-laws. The unlimited issue of such licences has made it increasingly difficult for them to earn a decent living. In order to contain the large number of these pedlars, the hawker bazaar was introduced. However, unrealistically a very huge number is con- fined to a single bazaar. In the Kowloon City Market Bazaar, for example, there are 700 pedlars. Can anyone imagine how in this bazaar all can make a living by selling one commodity-fresh vegetables? By my own calculation, if each of these pedlars is to earn ten dollars a day, the total amount of turnover per day has to be in the region of $40,000. Is this actually possible? Mr. Chairman, I sympathize with these people and certainly they are justified for discontent.
I am one of the three signatories in the first Hawker Report, but I wish to know from the department how closely have the policies given in this particular report been followed. If the Council insists that the Hawker Control Force is to enforce the by-laws, it is about time to have a fresh look at them, some of which are quite unnecessary. These by-laws should be simplified so that the hawkers may know what they have to observe.
To be more realistic, I suggest that there should be ten hawker areas in accordance with the ward boundaries. In each of these areas there should be a maximum quota for each of the three kinds of hawkers. The quota of each would depend on the number of good and valuable spaces available. Allocation of stalls and issue of pedlars' licences should be valid only at the specified area; and licences should not be issued when all the sites have been occupied. This will enable much easier control, particularly when each area is being supervised by the ward members.
During the last few years, the market programme has been re- activated because of the acute shortage of hawker bazaars. This is primarily to incorporate the pedlars into the markets. While I have no objection to the building of new markets or re-conditioning of old ones, I do have concern for the market stall-holders. For they are unable to compete with the fresh provision shops around the market which does make the market unpopular. Unpopular markets will have dis- contented hawkers. If market bazaars are to operate successfully at all, some restrictions have to be imposed on the siting of these provision shops. We would not like to see markets later converted into recrea- tion areas as has already happened to one of our new markets.
My Committee on Health Education recommends that more health inspectors be sent to the University of London for the professional Diploma in Health Education. The concept of health education has
|
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
271
The pro-
greatly changed and many new methods have been devised. gramme covering the various aspects of this sphere is extremely extensive. At present, the scope under the Urban Council is rather restricted and this section is under the control of a senior health inspector. I am very grateful to the Education Department and the Government Information Services for helping us launch the various campaigns. One of the obstacles experienced by my committee is the limited terms of reference. The sphere of activity is strictly limited and the officers in charge are at a loss as to what is within and what is not within these terms of reference. Most unfortunately Government has rejected our request to be fully in charge of the whole programme of Health Education in the Colony. Mr. Chairman, this is a typical example of the stubbornness on the part of Government by not yielding to any request from the Council, even on such a simple matter. The public has thus lost the opportunity of learning what Government may consider unimportant, some simple sanitary and hygienic practices which are so essential in the preservation of life.
Mr. Chairman, I have much pleasure in supporting the Motion before the Council. (Applause).
MR. D. J. R. BLAKER :—Mr. Chairman, I am afraid that my com- ments today will be rather shorter, and of an unaccustomed moderation, due to the fact that I have been ill for the last month.
There has been talk recently of developing local government, in particular by expanding the functions of this Council. I am very much in favour of steps being taken in this direction, and for a very good reason. The disturbances last year had one beneficial result in that they have certainly produced an increased civic awareness. I think this is very much to be welcomed and to be encouraged. If our citizens can be persuaded to take a greater interest in community affairs and acquire a greater sense of participation, I am sure that a more contented and more settled society will result. One way to encourage this in- creased interest in community affairs is by gradually expanding the activities of our Council, as I think can now well be done. I believe that this would result in greater interest being taken in its activities, and in time in a greater willingness to vote for elections to the Council. I doubt whether we can aspire to any real sense of Hong Kong nationality, but I do think that we can, in this way amongst others, gradually achieve a greater civic identity. I hope that the forthcoming year will see progress in expanding the Urban Council's activities to this end.
The need for an ombudsman has been mentioned here before. Many opinions have been given that we need such an institution. But no reply has escaped the pursed lips of Government as to why we do
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