1973 — Page 37

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

lack of staff on-the-ground is a serious problem. This is under continuous review by the Hawkers Select Com- mittee and it is hoped that the Urban Services Depart- ment will report to the Select Committee on this problem at an early date.

MR. SIN (In English):—Mr. Chairman, could I ask a supplementary question? Can this Council be told how many sites are now available?

MR. CHEONG-LEEN (In English):—Mr. Chairman, there is a 3-year forecast of off-street hawkers sites i.e. for the years 1973-1975. In the 3-year forecast, there are quite a number of off-street hawker sites. The approximate total is about 27 sites. In addition, there are markets being planned; markets are closely related to the programme for build- ing off-street hawkers sites, and I am sure the Chairman of the Markets Select Committee will be very glad to provide additional information on the subject to Mr. SIN. If Mr. SIN is interested in having a detailed list of the markets and the off-street hawker bazaar sites I would be very glad to furnish it to him. In fact, I would ask the secretary to send it to him after the meeting.

MR. SIN (In English):-Mr. Chairman, I am glad that we will have 27 sites and markets; can this Council be told how many hawkers will be accommodated within this forecast?

MR. CHEONG-LEEN (In English): --There is a detailed list, Mr. Chairman, of the number of hawker sites which will be available in each bazaar and also in each market. This is indicated in the list which will be sent to Mr. SIN. I could quite readily read them out, but I think it will take quite a bit of the Council's time and I suggest that this be sent to him afterwards.

MR. SIN (In English):-Mr. Chairman, I see from the answer that every opportunity will be taken to obtain more sites from Government, can this Council be told what efforts have been made and what is the reply from Government, if any?

MR. CHEONG-LEEN (In English):-As Vice-Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee, Mr. SIN knows that the Select Committee has been constantly pressing the Central Government to provide as many sites as possible. This is a continuous battle with the administra- tion and I am sure that it is a problem with which the new Chairman and the Members of the Select Committee are aware about, and they will, I am very sure, continue with their efforts to press for the additional provision of sites, and the required manpower to manage the sites.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. SIN (In English):-Mr. Chairman, could I ask a final supple- mentary question? The first sentence of the last paragraph of the answer says "lack of staff on the ground is a serious problem”. What steps have been taken to solve this serious problem, if any?

MR. CHEONG-LEEN (In English):-Mr. Chairman, this is an ex- tremely serious problem. It is well recognized by all members of the Select Committee. The Select Committee has at every possible oppor- tunity raised this in committee with the department. I myself have fairly regularly taken this up with the Director of Urban Services. I do know that the Director is extremely concerned about this problem. I do believe that he is doing everything possible to press in order to get the additional staff required. However, it does take time and other departments are trying to get the same manpower that we are after, but, however, this must not deter us in our efforts.

MR. SIN (In English):-I thank Mr. CHEONG-LEEN for the very detailed answer.

(2) MR. HENRY H. L. Hu asked the following question (In English) :

Is the Chairman aware that there are often uninvited photo- graphers to take photographs of newly-wedded couples without their consent and also a certain kind of nagging in the City Hall Garden after a Marriage Ceremony which can cause much annoyance? Could some measures be taken to improve the situation?

MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (In English):

This question concerns the pestering of newly married couples by uninvited photographers at the City Hall Memorial Garden.

This matter has been brought to the attention of the City Hall Management and the Management has posted notices at the Garden requesting members of the public to report any such nuisance to the Management at once. Through the co-operation of the Marriage Registry at the City Hall, leaflets containing the same request are being issued to couples registering for marriage.

The Management has advised the photographers concerned to obtain in advance the consent of the parties to whom they