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(10) MR. EDMUND W. H. CHOW asked the following question (in Cantonese):- As the number of unemployed has the inclination to increase, and part of the unemployed workers have switched to the hawker trade, does the Council intend to amend the hawker policy, particularly that part concerning the issuing of pedlar hawker licences, to a limited extent so as to meet the need of the circumstances?
MR. HENRY H. L. HU, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English): Mr. Chairman, up to the present, no proposal has been made to the Hawkers Select Committee concerning the limited issue of itinerant hawker licences. But this is a matter which I shall be happy to refer to my Select Committee.
MR. EDMUND W. H. CHOW (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, Mr. Henry Hu mentioned that no proposal has been made. I wish to know whether he has received any such complaint or does he feel that there is such a need?
MR. HENRY H. L. HU (in English):- No, I raised this question of issuing pedlar licence three months ago in Hawkers Select Committee. It was discussed and at that time the Members considered that the existing policy should be still maintained although I personally raised this question, hoping that licence could be issued. But it was rejected.
MR. TSIN SAI-NIN (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, in my office, I have received a number of unemployed citizens. They asked for licences and also on one occasion, I had referred these requests to the Urban Services Department, but the reply I got was that the policy was not to issue any licences. I wish to know if other Members had received any such complaints or proposals?
MR. HENRY H. L. HU (in English):- As the Chairman of the Select Committee, I did foresee about half a year ago about this necessity, therefore, I raised it about three or four months ago in Select Committee. I think that since then the situation has been changed, and this is why I am happy to refer this matter again to the Select Committee to discuss it again. I hope that probably a new policy could be ironed out from the discussion.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN (in English):- Before we go on to question No. 11, I wish to explain that it was filed after the time prescribed by Standing Orders had expired. In consultation with the Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee and the Department, this question was accepted and I exercised my discretion under Standing Order 12(4). Mr. Peter C. K. CHAN.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):- Mr. Chairman, I am grateful that you do exercise your power under Standing Order 12(4) to allow this question. Since it has arisen during the course of last week and we couldn't have filed it within time. Before I actually ask the question, I want to inform the Council that out of his own initiative, the Secretary for the Civil Service after reading that this question is tabled from the South China Morning Post, he, at his own liberty, wrote to me a very nice letter explaining the position from the Colonial Secretariat's point of view. May I have your permission to lay his letter Appendix on the table?
CHAIRMAN (in English):- Any objection, Mr. Hu?
MR. HENRY H. L. HU (in English):- No objection.
CHAIRMAN (in English):- Will you put the main question, please?
(11) MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):- May I now ask question No. 11 standing in my name? Can this Council be informed about the pay increase situation of the Hawker Control Force personnel, as this has not been included in the recent announcement of the Secretariat covering other disciplined forces personnel?
MR. HENRY H. L. HU (in English):- I also welcome the Chairman's decision to let this question be asked in this meeting. Mr. Chairman, I now answer Mr. CHAN's question. The Pay Investigation Unit of the Civil Service Branch of the Colonial Secretariat have been working on a Special Review of the Hawker Control Force salary structure for several months. The Review is now nearly completed and it is expected that an announcement will be made very soon regarding the revised salary levels.
III.
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(10) MR. EDMUND W. H. CHOW asked the following question (in Cantonese):-
As the number of unemployed has the inclination to increase, and part of the unemployed workers have switched to the hawker trade, does the Council intend to amend the hawker policy, particularly that part concerning the issu- ing of pedlar hawker licences, to a limited extent so as to meet the need of the circumstances?
MR. HENRY H. L. HU, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COM- MITTEE, replied as follows (in English):
Mr. Chairman, up to the present, no proposal has been made to the Hawkers Select Committee concerning the limited issue of itinerant hawker licences. But this is a matter which I shall be happy to refer to my Select Committee.
MR. EDMUND W. H. CHOW (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, Mr. Henry Hu mentioned that no proposal has been made. I wish to know whether he has received any such complaint or does he feel that there is such a need?
MR. HENRY H. L. Hu (in English):-No, I raised this question of issuing pedlar licence three months ago in Hawkers Select Committee. It was discussed and at that time the Members considered that the existing policy should be still maintained although I personally raised this question, hoping that licence could be issued. But it was rejected.
MR. TSIN SAI-NIN (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, in my office, I have received a number of unemployed citizens. They asked for licences and also on one occasion, I had referred these requests to the Urban Services Department, but the reply I got was that the policy was not to issue any licences. I wish to know if other Members had received any such complaints or proposals?
MR. HENRY H. L. Hu (in English): -As the Chairman of the Select Committee, I did foresee about half a year ago about this necessity, therefore, I raised it about three or four months ago in Select Committee. I think that since then the situation has been changed, and this is why I am happy to refer this matter again to the Select Com- mittee to discuss it again. I hope that probably a new policy could be ironed out from the discussion.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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CHAIRMAN (in English):-Before we go on to question No. 11, wish to explain that it was filed after the time prescribed by Standing Orders had expired. In consultation with the Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee and the Department, this question was accepted and I exercised my discretion under Standing Order 12(4). Mr. Peter C. K. CHAN.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I am grateful that you do exercise your power under Standing Order 12(4) to allow this question. Since it has arisen during the course of last week and we couldn't have filed it within time. Before I actually ask the ques- tion, I want to inform the Council that out of his own initiative, the Secretary for the Civil Service after reading that this question is tabled from the South China Morning Post, he, at his own liberty, wrote to me a very nice letter explaining the position from the Colonial Secre- tariat's point of view. May I have your permission to lay his letter Appendix on the table?
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Any objection, Mr. Hu?
MR. HENRY H. L. Hu (in English): --No objection. CHAIRMAN (in English): -Will you put the main question, please?
(11) MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):--May I now ask question No. 11 standing in my name?
Can this Council be informed about the pay increase situation of the Hawker Control Force personnel, as this has not been included in the recent announcement of the Secre- tariat covering other disciplined forces personnel?
MR. HENRY H. L. Hu (in English):-I also welcome the Chair- man's decision to let this question to be asked in this meeting. Mr. Chairman, I now answer Mr. CHAN's question.
The Pay Investigation Unit of the Civil Service Branch of the Colonial Secretariat have been working on a Special Review of the Hawker Control Force salary structure for several months.
The Review is now nearly completed and it is expected that an announcement will be made very soon regarding the revised salary levels.
III.
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