Page 21 of 237
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24
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order. Before proceeding with the agenda, I would like to welcome Dr. K. H. CHEUNG, who, no stranger to the Council and the Department, has taken over the duties of Deputy Director of Medical & Health Services from Dr. WYLIE. At the last meeting I did welcome in his absence Mr. BISHOP who is with us to-day, and I would like to repeat my welcome to him in person. I hope he is fully recovered from his illness.
I would also like to welcome back Mr. Wilson WANG on his return from leave.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 1st April, 1969, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of April, 1969.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st January, 1969 to 31st March, 1969.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st January, 1969 to 31st March, 1969.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, in connexion with the second paper which has been laid on the table, and also the first paper, I wish to make the following comments as Chairman of the Hawker Policy Select Committee.
The Urban Council which has been carrying out a re-appraisal of its hawker policy has now completed the first stage of this, namely the examination of the basic principles on which its future policy will be based.
In brief, under the new policy, the Council accepts that hawking is likely to continue for some time to come and that, under existing social conditions, it provides an occupation for a large number of people and some protection against unemployment or insufficient income. Acceptance of hawking as a necessary feature of life in Hong Kong means that proper provision for the legitimate needs of hawkers must be made, though their needs must be balanced against those of traffic, both motor and pedestrian, of shops, of local residents and, in fact, of the public generally.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
25
The Council believes that it is important that hawkers should know exactly when, where and how they may or may not hawk. Hawking must, therefore, be restricted to certain well-defined streets and areas, the aim being to provide room for all licensed hawkers. It will not be possible to find off-street sites for all hawkers, particularly in those areas which are already developed, and resumption of land on a large-scale is not practicable. Bearing in mind the competing demand for land for recreation areas, playgrounds, housing, schools, medical facilities, parking and so on, it will be the Council's aim wherever possible to obtain areas of land for hawker bazaars, particularly in areas of new development where land is more readily available.
(Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG arrived at this point).
The present Hawker By-laws will be revised and simplified, and work on this is already in hand in the Urban Services Department. Where hawkers are accepted as legitimate users of certain streets, this should be reflected in their legal status.
At the request of the Urban Council the Secretary for Home Affairs has already set up District Hawker Consultative Committees under the Chairmanship of the City District Officers. These Committees will act as a forum in which people concerned with hawker matters in a particular district can meet to discuss them, and will also advise and co-operate with the Urban Services Department in the implementation of hawker policy.
In general, the Council's policy will be designed to take into account the requirements of health, sanitation and general orderliness, and the Council hopes that hawkers will themselves support such policy as being in the public interest.
The Hawker Policy Select Committee has already established a priority working programme, and of first importance is the need to establish control of the hawker situation on the ground. However, that can only be done as and when sufficient hawker liaison staff is made available and more hawker bazaar sites are found. The Urban Services Department is pursuing these aspects as a matter of urgency.
In connexion with health education, Mr. Chairman, I would like to make the following additional comments apart from what is reported in the Monthly Report.
The Urban Council and the Education Department recently jointly sponsored a school project competition for secondary schools. 18 schools from Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories took part in the competition and produced floor displays using drawings,
Page 21 of 237
24
24
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order. Before proceeding with the agenda, I would like to welcome Dr. K. H. CHEUNG, who, no stranger to the Council and the Department, has taken over the duties of Deputy Director of Medical & Health Services from Dr. WYILE. At the last meeting I did welcome in his absence Mr. BISHOP who is with us to-day, and I would like to repeat my welcome to him in person. I hope he is fully recovered from his illness.
I would also like to welcome back Mr. Wilson WANG on his return from leave.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 1st April, 1969, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban
Services Department for the month of April, 1969.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st January, 1969 to 31st March, 1969.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st January, 1969 to 31st March, 1969.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, in connexion with the second paper which has been laid on the table, and also the first paper, I wish to make the following comments as Chairman of the Hawker Policy Select Committee.
The Urban Council which has been carrying out a re-appraisal of its hawker policy has now completed the first stage of this, namely the examination of the basic principles on which its future policy will be based.
In brief, under the new policy, the Council accepts that hawking is likely to continue for some time to come and that, under existing social conditions, it provides an occupation for a large number of people and some protection against unemployment or insufficient income. Acceptance of hawking as a necessary feature of life in Hong Kong means that proper provision for the legitimate needs of hawkers must be made, though their needs must be balanced against those of traffic, both motor and pedestrian, of shops, of local residents and, in fact, of the public generally.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
25
The Council believes that it is important that hawkers should know exactly when, where and how they may or may not hawk. Hawking must, therefore, be restricted to certain well-defined streets and areas, the aim being to provide room for all licensed hawkers. It will not be possible to find off-street sites for all hawkers, particularly in those areas which are already developed, and resumption of land on a large-scale is not practicable. Bearing in mind the competing demand for land for recreation areas, playgrounds, housing, schools, medical facilities, parking and so on, it will be the Council's aim wherever possible to obtain areas of land for hawker bazaars, particularly in areas of new development where land is more readily available.
(Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG arrived at this point).
The present Hawker By-laws will be revised and simplified, and work on this is already in hand in the Urban Services Department. Where hawkers are accepted as legitimate users of certain streets, this should be reflected in their legal status.
At the request of the Urban Council the Secretary for Home Affairs has already set up District Hawker Consultative Committees under the Chairmanship of the City District Officers. These Committees will act as a forum in which people concerned with hawker matters in a particular district can meet to discuss them, and will also advise and co-operate with the Urban Services Department in the implementation of hawker policy.
In general, the Council's policy will be designed to take into account the requirements of health, sanitation and general orderliness, and the Council hopes that hawkers will themselves support such policy as being in the public interest.
The Hawker Policy Select Committee has already established a priority working programme, and of first importance is the need to establish control of the hawker situation on the ground. However, that can only be done as and when sufficient hawker liaison staff is made available and more hawker bazaar sites are found. The Urban Services Department is pursuing these aspects as a matter of urgency.
In connexion with health education, Mr. Chairman, I would like to make the following additional comments apart from what is reported in the Monthly Report.
The Urban Council and the Education Department recently jointly sponsored a school project competition for secondary schools. 18 schools from Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories took part in the competition and produced floor displays using drawings,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.