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late to stimulate the local people's genuine interest to participate in the local business but they are worthwhile trying.
Hawkers Problem
General comments:
I now turn to the problem of hawkers which is my daily work. The situation of hawkers is better now than, say, a year ago. The hawkers in resettlement estates are no longer our concern, and they are mainly the concern of the Housing Department except perhaps that matters of environmental hygiene are still our responsibility. Our policy is clear-cut, and that is gradually to move hawkers into off-street bazaars or markets. This is a slow process; and it may need as long as 10 years to do so. Hawking is a useful economic link in our economy. A short while ago, when we enjoyed the economic boom, we heard some people say that hawkers should go to factories. But now factories or industries dismiss workers purely on economic reasons, and workers' wages are mostly paid on a daily basis. Hawking is therefore still a means on which an unemployed person in Hong Kong can fall back. The policy of issuing no pedlar hawker licences may result in rich hawkers becoming richer and more privileged; on the other hand, it may cause hardship to really needy people. But our present policy is not to issue any more pedlar licences, unless the Select Committee changes the idea.
Work of the Hawkers Select Committee
In 1973 to 1974, the Hawkers Select Committee had a very busy year, held 19 meetings and joint meetings, made many site visits, and considered approximately 100 papers, against half that number in the previous Council year.
The Committee produced for sale to the public at a small charge a Chinese Translation of the Hawker By-laws. It also effected a small change to the By-laws to enable itinerant Ice-Cream Hawkers to continue operating when the gazetting of hawker areas is completed.
Lunar New Year Fairs
The Committee agreed to a new method of allocating stalls at the Lunar New Year by public auction. This method proved to be effective and an improvement over the Tender Procedure of previous years. The Committee are examining the possibility of more fairs in other areas in future. We were particularly honoured and gratified that His Excellency the Governor visited the New Year Fair in San Po Kong on Chinese New Year's Eve. People there were very pleased to see His Excellency's presence.
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Renewal of Hawker Licences
The Committee agreed to allowing hawkers to renew their licences up to 2 months prior to their expiry date, and up to 4 months in arrears. This is to meet the requirements of the new By-laws, and to assist the hawkers by having a simple, but clear policy.
Hawker Bazaars
The Committee agreed that all current hawker bazaars should have surfacing, drainage, electricity and water, and that future bazaars should have roofs wherever possible, in addition. In future, in view of the widening of the commodities in hawker bazaars, the difference between hawker bazaars and markets may gradually disappear.
Wong Tai Sin Market Clearance
The Committee authorized a clearance of the temporary hawker bazaar in Wong Tai Sin, and adopted a number of criteria which, whilst reducing the number of traders involved, did not unfairly deprive any family with a genuine claim to trade. The criteria proved very workable and the clearance which was potentially an explosive situation was carried out with full co-operation all round.
General Duties Teams
The Committee spent a great deal of time dealing with the setting-up of General Duties Teams, and decided that these should initially operate in Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok, Shum Shui Po, Kowloon City, and in the Western District of Hong Kong Island to see how effective they would be. The trial period is one year. The teams are an attempt to institute more effective hawker control, particularly in Kowloon.
Gazetting of Hawker Streets
The Committee agreed to proceed with inspections of streets to ascertain which should be gazetted as hawker permitted areas. This commits members to making numerous visits to all parts of the urban area. There will be 20 visits in both sides of the harbour and each visit will last 6 solid hours.
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late to stimulate the local people's genuine interest to participate in the local business but they are worthwhile trying.
Hawkers Problem
General comments:
I now turn to the problem of hawkers which is my daily work. The situation of hawkers is better now than, say, a year ago. The hawkers in resettlement estates are no longer our concern, and they are mainly the concern of the Housing Department except perhaps that matters of environmental hygiene are still our responsibility. Our policy is clear-cut, and that is gradually to move hawkers into off- street bazaars or markets. This is a slow process; and it may need as long as 10 years to do so. Hawking is an useful economic link in our economy. A short while ago, when we enjoyed the economic boom, we heard some people say that hawkers should go to factories. But now factories or industries dismiss workers purely on economic reasons, and workers' wages are mostly paid on a daily basis. Haw- king is therefore still a means on which an unemployed person in Hong Kong can fall. The policy of issuing no pedlar hawker licences may result in rich hawkers becoming richer and more privileged; on the other hand, it may cause hardship to really needy people. But our present policy is not to issue any more pedlar licences, unless the Select Committee changes the idea.
Work of the Hawkers Select Committee
In 1973 to 1974, the Hawkers Select Committee had a very busy year, held 19 meetings and joint meetings, made many site visits, and considered approximately 100 papers, against half that number in the previous Council year.
The Committee produced for sale to the public at a small charge a Chinese Translation of the Hawker By-laws. It also effected a small change to the By-laws to enable itinerant Ice-Cream Hawkers to con- tinue operating when the gazetting of hawker areas is completed.
Lunar New Year Fairs
The Committee agreed to a new method of allocating stalls at the Lunar New Year by public auction. This method proved to be effective and an improvement over the Tender Procedure of previous years. The Committee are examining the possibility of more fairs in other areas in future. We were particularly honoured and gratified that His Excellency the Governor visited the New Year Fair in San
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
255
Po Kong on Chinese New Year's Eve. People there were very pleased to see His Excellency's presence.
Renewal of Hawker Licences
The Committee agreed to allowing hawkers to renew their licences up to 2 months prior to their expiry date, and up to 4 months in This is to meet the requirements of the new By-laws, and
arrears.
to assist the hawkers by having a simple, but clear policy.
Hawker Bazaars
The Committee agreed that all current hawker bazaars should have surfacing, drainage, electricity and water, and that future bazaars should have roofs wherever possible, in addition. In future, in view of the widening of the commodities in hawker bazaars, the difference between hawker bazaars and markets may gradually disappear.
Wong Tai Sin Market Clearance
The Committee authorized a clearance of the temporary hawker bazaar in Wong Tai Sin, and adopted a number of criteria which, whilst reducing the number of traders involved, did not unfairly deprive any family with a genuine claim to trade. The criteria proved very workable and the clearance which was potentially an explosive situation was carried out with full co-operation all round.
General Duties Teams
The Committee spent a great deal of time dealing with the setting- up of General Duties Teams, and decided that these should initially operate in Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok, Shum Shui Po, Kowloon City, and in the Western District of Hong Kong Island to see how effective they would be. The trial period is one year. The teams are an attempt to institute more effective hawker control, particularly in Kowloon.
Gazetting of Hawker Streets
The Committee agreed to proceed with inspections of streets to ascertain which should be gazetted as hawker permitted areas. This commits members to making numerous visits to all parts of the urban There will be 20 visits in both sides of the harbour and each visit will last 6 solid hours.
area.
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