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up in any place, to the great discomfort of the residents. Only by legalising them can we have any hope of bringing order out of the chaos.
I believe, however, that I am speaking to the converted. By giving united support to this Motion proposed by Mr. BERNACCHI my Colleagues will indicate that they recognize the need for cooked food stalls, and this will strengthen the arm of the Hawker Policy Select Committee members when the matter is referred to them to work out the practical details.
Mr. Chairman, it gives me pleasure to second the Motion.
Mr. H. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, in speaking on this motion, let me say from the outset that the Hawker Policy Select Committee fully appreciates the existing need for hawkers of cooked food in Hong Kong.
As I said at a meeting of the Hawker Policy Select Committee two months ago, the health and control aspects of the problem are intertwined.
This Council first and foremost has a responsibility to the public to ensure that any premises offering food for sale to the public should be adequately controlled and able to operate under reasonable hygiene standards before they are licensed.
On the other hand, there are many unlicensed cooked food stalls in the urban areas including the resettlement estates. The reason is not far to seek. There is a definite demand for cheap and well-cooked food to be provided for industrial workers and low-income families living in industrial areas and in newly developed areas.
On the 25th April last, Members of the Hawker Policy Select Committee and the Hawker Management Select Committee visited a number of bazaars in Kwun Tong. We were accompanied by representatives from the Police and the Kwun Tong City District Office. My tentative observations as a result of this visit are as follows:
(1) In the industrial areas, large factories should be strongly encouraged by Government to provide canteen facilities for their workers.
(2) There is an actual need for licensed cooked food stalls operating under hygienic conditions at suitably located points in order to cater for industrial workers and low-income families.
(3) Wherever possible, it is necessary to provide a permanent roof for cooked food stall bazaars and for the necessary drainage to be provided on the site before cooked food stalls are allowed to move in.
(4) After cooked food stall bazaars are established, Hawker Liaison Staff will be required to continuously inspect the bazaars to make sure that they operate under hygienic conditions.
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At the last meeting of the Hawker Policy Select Committee held on 16th April, 1969, a Priority Working Programme was agreed upon to tackle the more important aspects of our revised Hawker Policy.
In terms of priority and urgency, it is necessary for the Urban Services Department to be given suitable sites which could contain cooked food stall bazaars, and for the Department to get the necessary qualified Hawker Liaison Staff to establish and control cooked food stall bazaars.
Until these two priorities have been met, it will not be possible for the Hawker Management Select Committee to work out practical details on the licensing of new cooked food stalls and any resiting of old food stalls in areas where they are needed.
I am advised by the Director of Urban Services that he is taking urgent measures to implement these two priorities.
I would like to assure Mr. BERNACCHI and Mrs. ELLIOTT that once suitable sites are found for cooked food stalls in areas where there appear to be a need for them, and adequate Hawker Liaison Staff have been recruited, quick action will be taken by the Department along the lines decided upon by the Hawker Policy and the Hawker Management Select Committees.
In the light of what I have said as regards priorities, I therefore find it necessary to move an amendment to the motion by deleting the words "for it to work out the practical details" and by substituting the words "for consideration in accordance with the Committee's Priority Working Programme".
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN:- Mr. Chairman, I beg to second the amendment of Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.
MR. HU: Can I still speak on the original Motion?
CHAIRMAN:- Well, an amending Motion has been made and seconded, Mr. Hu. We have to clear this first, I think. Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN has proposed that the Motion be amended to read "The Council appreciates the need for hawkers of cooked food in Hong Kong and remits this matter to the Hawker Policy Select Committee for consideration in accordance with the Committee's Priority Working Programme". This has been seconded by Mr. P. C. K. CHAN. Can I now take a vote on the amendment to the original Motion?
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up in any place, to the great discomfort of the residents. Only by legalising them can we have any hope of bringing order out of the chaos.
I believe, however, that I am speaking to the converted. By giving united support to this Motion proposed by Mr. BERNACCHI my Col- leagues will indicate that they recognize the need for cooked food stalls, and this will strengthen the arm of the Hawker Policy Select Committee members when the matter is referred to them to work out the practical details.
Mr. Chairman, it gives me pleasure to second the Motion.
Mr. H. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, in speaking on this motion, let me say from the outset that the Hawker Policy Select Committee fully appreciate the existing need for hawkers of cooked food in Hong Kong.
As I said at a meeting of the Hawker Policy Select Committee two months ago, the health and control aspects of the problem are intertwined.
This Council first and foremost has a responsibility to the public to ensure that any premises offering food for sale to the public should be adequately controlled and able to operate under reasonable hygiene standards before they are licensed.
On the other hand, there are many unlicensed cooked food stalls in the urban areas including the resettlement estates. The reason is not far to seek. There is a definite demand for cheap and well cooked food to be provided for industrial workers and low income families living in industrial areas and in newly developed areas.
On the 25th April last, Members of the Hawker Policy Select Committee and the Hawker Management Select Committee visited a number of bazaars in Kwun Tong. We were accompanied by repre- sentatives from the Police and the Kwun Tong City District Office. My tentative observations as a result of this visit are as follow:
(1) In the industrial areas, large factories should be strongly en- couraged by Government to provide canteen facilities for their workers.
(2) There is an actual need for licensed cooked food stalls operat- ing under hygienic conditions at suitably located points in order to cater for industrial workers and low income families. (3) Wherever possible, it is necessary to provide a permanent roof for cooked food stall bazaars and for the necessary drainage to be provided on the site before cooked food stalls are allowed to move in.
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51
(4) After cooked food stall bazaars are established, Hawker Liaison Staff will be required to continuously inspect the bazaars to make sure that they operate under hygienic con- ditions.
At the last meeting of the Hawker Policy Select Committee held on 16th April, 1969, a Priority Working Programme was agreed upon to tackle the more important aspects of our revised Hawker Policy.
In terms of priority and urgency, it is necessary for the Urban Services Department to be given suitable sites which could contain cooked food stall bazaars, and for the Department to get the necessary qualified Hawker Liaison Staff to establish and control cooked food stall bazaars,
Until these two priorities have been met, it will not be possible for the Hawker Management Select Committee to work out practical details on the licensing of new cooked food stalls and any resiting of old food stalls in areas where they are needed.
I am advised by the Director of Urban Services that he is taking urgent measures to implement these two priorities.
I would like to assure Mr. BERNACCHI and Mrs. ELLIOTT that once suitable sites are found for cooked food stalls in areas where there appear to be a need for them, and adequate Hawker Liaison Staff have been recruited, quick action will be taken by the Department along the lines decided upon by the Hawker Policy and the Hawker Manage- ment Select Committees.
In the light of what I have said as regards priorities, I therefore find it necessary to move an amendment to the motion by deleting the words "for it to work out the practical details" and by substituting the words "for consideration in accordance with the Committee's Priority Working Programme".
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN:-Mr. Chairman, I beg to second the amendment of Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.
MR. HU: Can I still speak on the original Motion?
CHAIRMAN: -Well, an amending Motion has been made and seconded, Mr. Hu. We have to clear this first I think. Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN has proposed that the Motion be amended to read "The Council appreciates the need for hawkers of cooked food in Hong Kong and remits this matter to the Hawker Policy Select Committee for consideration in accordance with the Committee's Priority Working Programme". This has been seconded by Mr. P. C. K. CHAN. Can I now take a vote on the amendment to the original Motion?
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.