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experiments on decomposing the refuse with a view to turning the useless waste materials to useful raw materials. Why can't Hong Kong follow suit and draw up a plan to make use of the refuse? It has come to my knowledge that in Hong Kong, nightsoil is sold to the Mainland to bolster our revenue. Mr. Chairman, I hope that you will pay attention to the follow-up work of the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign as well. We should not spend too much money on publicising the Campaign in order to save money for the purchase of the equipment for decomposing refuse. This is a very worthwhile move.
Since the introduction of the hawker permitted area scheme, the most obvious effects have been that the unemployment problem is solved, the manufacturers find it easier to clear their stock, and the public find it more convenient to buy cheaper goods. But as far as the choice of sites is concerned, it seems that little regard has been given to the interest of the shopowners in the hawker permitted areas. Since the scheme is experimental in nature, improvements should be made where the situation so demands in order to balance the interest of all concerned. When the 6-month trial period of the scheme expired, it was further extended for three months without proper reason.
In my opinion, we should not choose prosperous urban areas as sites for hawker permitted areas. Instead, they should be set up in less busy streets so that there will be no conflict between the hawkers and the shopowners. For example, in Mong Kok district, the hawker permitted area should be located at Hak Po Street and Pak Po Street instead of at Tung Choi Street. The public will find these two hawkers permitted areas equally convenient as the one in Tung Choi Street. If the hawker permitted areas scheme is found to be workable, it should be expanded. Being bargain shopping centres, the hawker permitted areas enable the people to spend less money on buying things and in this way, the scheme may be regarded as a good policy that benefits the people. Meanwhile, the authority should take stock of the situation to determine whether temporary licences should be issued so as to put an end to the conflicts between licensed and unlicensed hawkers. With the issue of temporary licences, control will be made easier and triad infiltration will also be checked. Moreover, hawker control work will be made more successful and practical.
Lastly, I have to point out that when making arrests of unlicensed hawkers, the present practice is to detain both the hawkers and their goods. Under the existing laws, a hawker who breaches the law may have his goods confiscated. This is inhumane because the confiscation will make the hawker lose all his capital. If he breaks the law, the most suitable punishment is to impose a fine on him. With regard to the confiscation of goods, I think that consideration should be given to amending the old legislations and this seems to be necessary. A word of thanks is due to Chairman, Hawkers Select Committee, Dr. Henry Hu. I thank him on behalf of the hawkers.
With these remarks, I wish to support the motion before us.
(Mr. R. H. LOBO left the meeting at this point).
MR. TSIN SAI-NIN (in Cantonese): - Mr. Chairman, first of all, I wish to express my extreme disappointment over the Urban Council as a body representing the public. Since its financial autonomy, every kind of reshuffle has virtually stopped. Now apart from the Ward Offices and the Annual Debate, it seems that the Council has been reduced to an advisory body of the Urban Services Department. I am also extremely frustrated to see that the Urban Council, being the only organisation in Hong Kong with representatives elected by secret poll, has under its control only the urban area section of the U.S.D. which is one of the 40-odd Government departments in Hong Kong. I have met many elected M.P.s and persons who are educated in a British democratic way, but regrettably, they do not feel even a bit ashamed or uneasy about the near totalitarian political system prevailing in Hong Kong. If they are of the opinion that because of the unique position of Hong Kong, there should be no democratic system here, then why is it necessary to retain the window-dressing Legislative Council and Urban Council? I wish to make use of the opportunity of this Annual Debate to make known the wishes of the people in urging the British Government to immediately introduce elected representatives to Legislative Council, whether they be elected by direct or indirect suffrage. From a democratic point of view, only by secret poll will true representatives be elected. Moreover, among the appointed members of the Legislative Council, there is not a single one who comes from the wage-earning class, which forms the greatest part of the working force in Hong Kong. This shows that the Hong Kong Government disregards the importance of the wage-earning people and their right to speak on public affairs.
The Hong Kong Government has recently, by a piece of document, rejected our resolution in proposing the change of the name of the "Urban Council of Hong Kong" to the "City Council of Hong Kong". Such undemocratic manner smacks of pragmatic colonial rule. The elected members of the Council can't help feeling sorry about it. From this document, it can be seen that the Government has not the slightest intention to extend the jurisdiction of the Council. Such an act is not only inconsistent with the spirit of the British Government and contrary to its basic policy towards its colonies after the 2nd World War, but is also against the basic human rights proclaimed by the United Nations.
Page 126 of 154
Page 126 of 154
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experiments on decomposing the refuse with a view to turning the use- less waste materials to useful raw materials. Why can't Hong Kong follow suit and draw up a plan to make use of the refuse? It has come to my knowledge that in Hong Kong, nightsoil is sold to the Mainland to bolster our revenue. Mr. Chairman, I hope that you will pay atten- tion to the follow-up work of the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign as well. We should not spend too much money on publicising the Cam- paign in order to save money for the purchase of the equipment for decomposing refuse. This is a very worthwhile move.
Since the introduction of the hawker permitted area scheme, the most obvious effects have been that the unemployment problem is solved, the manufacturers find it easier to clear their stock, and the public find it more convenient to buy cheaper goods. But as far as the choice of sites is concerned, it seems that little regard has been given to the interest of the shopowners in the hawker permitted areas. Since the scheme is experimental in nature, improvements should be made where the situation so demands in order to balance the interest of all concerned. When the 6-month trial period of the scheme expired, it was further extended for three months without proper reason.
In my opinion, we should not choose prosperous urban areas as sites for hawker permitted areas. Instead, they should be set up in less busy street so that there will be no conflict between the hawkers and the shopowners. For example, in Mong Kok district, the hawker permitted area should be located at Hak Po Street and Pak Po Street instead of at Tung Choi Street. The public will find these two hawkers permitted areas equally convenient as the one in Tung Choi Street. If the hawker permitted areas scheme is found to be workable, it should be expanded. Being bargain shopping centres, the hawker permitted areas enable the people to spend less money on buying things and in this way, the scheme may be regarded as a good policy that benefits the people. Meanwhile the authority should take stock of the situation to determine whether temporary licences should be issued so as to put an end to the conflicts between licensed and unlicensed hawkers. With the issue of temporary licences, control will be made easier and triad infiltration will also be checked. Moreover, hawker control work will be made more successful and practical.
Lastly, I have to point out that when making arrests of unlicensed hawkers, the present practice is to detain both the hawkers and their goods. Under the existing laws, a hawker who breaches the law may have his goods confiscated. This is inhumane because the confiscation will make the hawker lose all his capital. If he breaks the law, the most suitable punishment is to impose a fine on him. With regard to the confiscation of goods, I think that consideration should be given
A
to amending the old legislations and this seems to be necessary. word of thanks is due to Chairman, Hawkers Select Committee, Dr. Henry Hu. I thank him on behalf of the hawkers.
With these remarks, I wish to support the motion before us.
(Mr. R. H. LOBO left the meeting at this point).
MR. TSIN SAI-NIN (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, first of all, I wish to express my extreme disappointment over the Urban Council as a body representing the public. Since its financial autonomy, every kind of reshuffle has virtually stopped. Now apart from the Ward Offices and the Annual Debate, it seems that the Council has been reduced to an advisory body of the Urban Services Department. I am also extremely frustrated to see that the Urban Council, being the only organisation in Hong Kong with representatives elected by secret poll, has under its control only the urban area section of the U.S.D. which is one of the 40-old Government departments in Hong Kong. I have met many elected M.P.s and persons who are educated in a British democratic way, but regrettably, they do not feel even a bit ashamed or uneasy about the near totalitarian political system prevailing in Hong Kong. If they are of the opinion that because of the unique position of Hong Kong, there should be no democratic system here then why is it necessary to retain the window-dressing Legislative Council and Urban Council? I wish to make use of the opportunity of this Annual Debate to make known the wishes of the people in urging the British Government to immediately introduce elected representatives to Legisla- tive Council, whether they be elected by direct or indirect suffrage. From a democratic point of view, only by secret poll will true repre- sentatives be elected. Moreover, among the appointed members of the Legislative Council, there is not a single one who comes from the wage-earning class, which forms the greatest part of the working force in Hong Kong. This shows that the Hong Kong Government disregards the importance of the wage-earning people and their right to speak on public affairs.
The Hong Kong Government has recently, by a piece of document, rejected our resolution in proposing the change of the name of the "Urban Council of Hong Kong" to the "City Council of Hong Kong". Such undemocratic manner smacks of pragmatic colonial rule. The elected members of the Council can't help feeling sorry about it. From this document it can be seen that the Government has not the slightest intention to extend the jurisdiction of the Council. Such an act is not only inconsistent with the spirit of the British Government and contrary to its basic policy towards its colonies after the 2nd World War, but is also against the basic human rights proclaimed by the United Nations.
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