1972 — Page 47

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Page 47 of 206

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

(20) MR. JAMES M. H. Wu asked the following question:-

a

Is there any existing arrangement for consultation between

the Urban Services Department and the trades with view to improving management and making fuller utiliza- tion of facilities in:

(a) markets; and

(b) abattoirs.

MR. R. H. LOBO, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS & ABATTOIRS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-

In practice there has always been, and there continues to be, regular contact between the staff of the Urban Services Department and the trade bodies with regard to problems arising in the management of markets and abattoirs. Consultation is on an ad hoc rather than a regular basis, but it always takes place, particularly when more difficult and important problems are involved.

With regard to the fuller utilization of facilities in markets and abattoirs, the main problems have been to arrive at mutually acceptable concessionary measures or compromise to meet the rapid growth of work load and volume of business. There is always full consultation with the trades regarding the standard size of market stalls, the use of scalding rooms, revised stall rentals and the alloca- tion of stalls in new markets.

I hope that when the new hawker policy is put into practice, the streets surrounding our markets will become less congested as hawkers will be confined within the bound- aries of the markets at which time our facilities within the markets will be utilized to the fullest where it is not so at present.

MR. WU-Mr. Chairman, with the common knowledge that large numbers of market stalls have been left empty, some for more than 25 years, and the fact that the abattoirs, after an expenditure of some tens of millions of dollars, are delivering meat to the market hours later than it used to be, would you not consider it necessary to have more active consultation so as to understand the needs of the trade as well as to enlist their co-operation, by more frequent consulta- tion probably at the Select Committee level?

MR. LOBO: Mr. Wu asks in fact two separate questions, one concerning the markets and the other concerning the delivery of food into the markets. As far as the markets are concerned, there are many

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empty stalls, some dating back several years in the older markets, but this is so particularly because some of the stalls have been forced to close and the trades being brought to the street level through people often surrounding the streets and markets. Often we have come to realize that the stallholders were supplying the hawkers with foodstuffs to keep themselves going. With regard to delivery of meat into the markets, I think in part I have answered when Mr. FORSGATE asked a question. It is true that sometimes, perhaps, because of the working hours in the abattoirs the markets receive meat rather late, but with the introduction of a night-shift, this will be improved, I am sure.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, have the representatives been given a chance to meet the Select Committee?

CHAIRMAN:--Not so far, Mrs. ELLIOTT, but I see no objection to this. But believe me, we have been in very close contact with them. If you can persuade them to accept what we think are reasonable proposals, we should be very happy.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I have been in close contact with them too, but may I ask if they could meet the Select Committee to make their views known?

MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I say that many years ago, when I was chairman of the Markets Select Committee, there were meetings between representatives of the trade and the Select Committee over various questions, and the Select Committee did not find that these market stallholders' representatives were at all considerate of the public interest in many matters, and the reason why some of these market stalls have been left vacant for so long, as Mr. Wu has pointed out, was because they were located in situations which were not prof- itable for the trade and also because of the Council's encouragement, Sir, of the frozen meat shops and other such development.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I clarify, we are talking about different things, I meant the abattoirs.

MR. LOBO:-Mr. Chairman, I am not opposed to meeting any delegation. I understand they have written some letters to you, to your department, but have not written to any of the Committee members. I really do not even know what they have in mind, but I will be quite prepared to listen as I have always done in every aspect of the work.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I clarify? I have had several interviews with them and I did write and ask if they could be allowed to meet the committee, but I got no answer.

CHAIRMAN:-When did you write the letter, Mrs. ELLIOTT?