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CHAIRMAN: --I have a feeling, ladies and gentlemen--if I may be allowed to step out of my position here of following a course down the middle--that it is highly probable that the Select Committee in question, knowing the feeling of the Council, will reach a decision at the earliest humanly possible moment and, therefore, the chances are not unreasonable that if we were to take a vote early on the amendment, we will achieve a satisfactory conclusion, that is acceptable to us. But if there are any Members who would like to speak to it, of course I am happy to hear them.
MR. RAYMOND Y. K. KAN: -Mr. Chairman, as the Select Committee Chairman concerned is not in Hong Kong, I feel it is not fair to him for Council to impose a time limit. He may have ideas, or he may encounter difficulties. As you have just mentioned, this Select Committee knows the feeling of the Council, and will work as far as possible. I therefore feel it is not necessary to impose a time limit, and I would prefer to support the amendment as proposed and passed by this Council.
CHAIRMAN: I think what you mean, Mr. KAN, you'd be prepared to vote against the amendment to the amended motion?
MR. KAN: -Yes, thank you.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I speak now very briefly on this? I support this amendment setting a time limit because this question has been going on long enough, and today we have opened the door for the Hawker Policy Select Committee to review the whole question, not only as to specific size of pedlar hawker stalls for the whole territory, but in respect to specific locations. There may be a variation of size permitted in certain locations and sizes may be smaller in others in more congested areas--we don't want to anticipate the deliberations of that Select Committee, but it seems to me fair that a time limit should be set so that it may be placed on the agenda with some degree of urgency. But if that particular Select Committee is unable to reach a conclusion satisfactory to all members of that Select Committee by the time three months expire, they can always come back to the Council and make a report that the matter is still under consideration and more time is required, and if for good and valid reason the Council grants them that request, then that is the end of the matter. So there need be no fear that three months may not be enough.
CHAIRMAN: -If there is no other Member who wishes to speak I will take a vote. For those who are in favour of the amendment of adding the words "within three months".
MR. C. K. CHAN: -Mr. Chairman, would you mind reading the amendment to the amended Motion again please?
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CHAIRMAN: -The Motion, as amended, if the proposed amendment were agreed, would read: "Now that the issue of further pedlar licences has been discontinued, this Council is agreed that the normal dimensions of all fixed pitch stalls and fixed pedlar stalls shall be reviewed by the Hawker Policy Select Committee and its decision presented to the Whole Council for its final approval and implementation within three months".
The question was put.
The further amendment was carried with 15 votes for and 6 votes against.
CHAIRMAN: ----The amendment is passed, and the Motion which now has been passed reads as a whole "Now that the issue of further pedlar licences has been discontinued, this Council is agreed that the normal dimensions of all fixed pitch stalls and fixed pedlar stalls shall be reviewed by the Hawker Policy Select Committee and its decision presented to the Whole Council for its final approval and implementation within three months".
The question was put.
The motion, as amended, was carried with 15 votes for and 6 abstentions.
ADJOURNMENT — 5.37 P.M.
CHAIRMAN: —That concludes the business of this meeting. Council stands adjourned until the 4th August, 1970 at 4 p.m.
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CHAIRMAN: --I have a feeling, ladies and gentlemen-if I may be allowed to step out of my position here of following a course down the middle-that it is highly probable that the Select Committee in question, knowing the feeling of the Council, will reach a decision at the earliest humanly possible moment and, therefore, the chances are not unrea- sonable that if we were to take a vote early on the amendment, we will achieve a satisfactory conclusion, that is acceptable to us. But if there are any Members who would like to speak to it, of course I am happy to hear them.
MR. RAYMOND Y. K. KAN:-Mr. Chairman, as the Select Com- mittee Chairman concerned is not in Hong Kong, I feel it is not fair to him for Council to impose a time limit. He may have ideas, or he may encounter difficulties. As you have just mentioned, this Select Committee knows the feeling of the Council, and will work as far as possible. I therefore feel it is not necessary to impose a time limit, and I would prefer to support the amendment as proposed and passed by this Council.
CHAIRMAN: I think what you mean, Mr. KAN, you'd be prepared to vote against the amendment to the amended motion?
MR. KAN:-Yes, thank you.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I speak now very briefly on this? I support this amendment setting a time limit because this question has been going on long enough, and today we have opened the door for the Hawker Policy Select Committee to review the whole question, not only as to specific size of pedlar hawker stalls for the whole territory, but in respect to specific locations. There may be a variation of size permitted in certain locations and sizes may be smaller in others in more conjested areas-we don't want to anticipate the deliberations of that Select Committee, but it seems to me fair that a time limit should be set so that it may be placed on the agenda with some degree of urgency. But if that particular Select Committee is unable to reach a conclusion satisfactory to all members of that Select Committee by the time three months expire, they can always come back to the Council and make a report that the matter is still under considera- tion and more time is required, and if for good and valid reason the Council grants them that request, then that is the end of the matter. So there need be no fear that three months may not be enough.
CHAIRMAN:-If there is no other Member who wishes to speak I will take a vote. For those who are in favour of the amendment of adding the words "within three months".
MR. C. K. CHAN:-Mr. Chairman, would you mind reading the amendment to the amended Motion again please?
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CHAIRMAN:-The Motion, as amended, if the proposed amendment were agreed, would read: "Now that the issue of further pedlar licences has been discontinued, this Council is agreed that the normal dimensions of all fixed pitch stalls and fixed pedlar stalls shall be re- viewed by the Hawker Policy Select Committee and its decision pre- sented to the Whole Council for its final approval and implementation within three months".
The question was put.
The further amendment was carried with 15 votes for and 6 votes against.
CHAIRMAN: ----The amendment is passed, and the Motion which now has been passed reads as a whole "Now that the issue of further pedlar licences has been discontinued, this Council is agreed that the normal dimensions of all fixed pitch stalls and fixed pedlar stalls shall be reviewed by the Hawker Policy Select Committee and its decision presented to the Whole Council for its final approval and implementa- tion within three months".
The question was put.
The motion, as amended, was carried with 15 votes for and 6 abstentions.
ADJOURNMENT — 5.37 P.M.
CHAIRMAN: —That concludes the business of this meeting. Council stands adjourned until the 4th August, 1970 at 4 p.m.
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