1975 — Page 52

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

PAPER

The following paper was laid on the table:-

Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of July, 1975.

QUESTIONS

(1) MR. ALEX S. C. Wu asked the following question (in English):

Does the Hawkers Select Committee have plans to continue or modify the Hawker Permitted Area Scheme after the expiry of the experimental period, in the light of experience gained and public opinion expressed on the scheme?

MR. HENRY H. L. Hu, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-

Mr. Chairman, with your permission, I would like to answer questions 1 and 2 together as they are related.

The Hawker Permitted Area Scheme is an experiment which in one or two areas has not run as smoothly as was hoped. The Hawkers Select Committee is at the moment reviewing the scheme to determine what modifications are required.

There are many competing claims which must be carefully considered before any changes are introduced. Thus the thousands of shoppers who daily choose to buy from hawkers in Tung Choi Street would appear to favour the scheme as it is; the shopkeepers and residents on the other hand would appear to be against having hawkers in the area at all; whilst the hawkers favour allocation of sites rather than the present "first come, first served" daily scramble for sites.

The expiry date for this experiment is the end of September when the whole scheme will be carefully analyzed and full weight given to public opinion expressed and the experience gained during the experimental period.

I would not like to anticipate the Select Committee's findings on the review to be made at this stage.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):- Mr. Chairman, would the Chairman of the Select Committee give an indication as to how long this review will take place after the end of September?

MR. HU (in English):- Mr. Chairman, the review has been taking place from time to time. What I said is the "findings" of the reviews which the Select Committee will have to consider before the experiment expires.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN (in English):- Mr. Chairman, is it expected that immediately after the end of September there will be some definite conclusions arrived at and beneficial changes will take place as soon as possible?

MR. HU (in English):- I hope so, yes.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN (in English):- We don't want just the hope, we want some action. Mr. Chairman, am I correct to assume that there will be action?

MR. HU (in English):- Action could be taken even before the expiry of the experiment. But I cannot give a definite promise of what kind of action will be taken.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN (in English):- Mr. Chairman, I am sure all Members will support the Chairman of the Select Committee and that, perhaps, if action is really taking place, a statement could be made at September's meeting or November's meeting of this Council?

MR. HU (in English):- I will bear Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's remarks in mind and, if it is proper, I will make the statement at September's meeting.

MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):- Mr. Chairman, both in his answer to Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's supplementaries and, indeed, in his answer to the main question, the Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee gives the impression that certain modifications are to be introduced even before the experimental stage has expired. I would, on the contrary, ask for the assurance that as the experimental stage expires next month, any modifications should be introduced thereafter rather than quickly modifying and then having to remodify again a few weeks later?

MR. HU (in English):- Mr. Chairman, as everybody knows the hawker problem is a day-to-day part of our economic life and it is not possible for a clear cut thing to be done today or tomorrow. If there

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