1981 — Page 29

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

These arguments are all valid unless there are new grounds requiring a change in policy.

MR. CHOI (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Mr. SHUM a question. According to the announcement made by the Newspaper Hawker Association, 2 million odd copies of newspapers are sold per day. So, 1 don't know whether the 1051 licensed hawkers would be able to sell the 2 million odd copies of newspapers per day. Although we have an additional 300 unlicensed hawkers, I think this number is still inadequate because according to the figures I've obtained from the Newspaper Hawker Associa- tion, there are now at least 6 to 7 thousand newspaper hawkers selling news- papers daily. I don't know whether this could be confirmed and I would like to ask once again how is it possible for the 1000 odd hawkers to sell such a large amount of newspaper per day.

MR. SHUM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, we have altogether issued 1051 licences to newspaper hawkers. The fact could be that there are more people selling newspapers from each of those pitches, and according to what I know there are also people delivering newspapers to people's homes. The number of unlicensed hawkers is about 300, but this is only an estimation given by the USD. As regard to the announcement made by the newspaper Hawker Association, may be the number could reach 6 000 or 7000 but I have doubts here. So there could be more people selling than the licensees.

MR. CHOI (in Cantonese): -I think Mr. SHUM hasn't answered my question. For 1051 hawkers to sell 2.1 million copies of newspapers, would that be possible?

MR. SHUM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, up to now, we have only 1051 newspaper hawkers licensed in Hong Kong and 2 million odd copies of newspapers are being sold daily and of course they are being sold at 1051 hawker pitches. For the number of unlicensed newspaper hawkers, according to survey conducted by the USD, the number is only 300 odd, the number supplied by the Newspaper Hawker Association is 5 or 6 thousand, but they have not made any breakdown of the details of these figures. But in any case we are sured that there are unlicensed.

MR. CHOI (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, from the answer given by Mr. SHUM, starting from 1976 up to now, in other words we haven't issued any more newspapers licences for 9 years. I don't know why we should not take into consideration the present requirements in cases where newspaper hawkers could find suitable sites and these sites do not obstruct other road users. In other words, there are a number of hawker pitches which lean against the wall, in those cases, when such sites are available, would it be advisable for us to issue fresh licences, and hawkers would understand that they would be selling newspapers and also selling magazines. I think we

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

should encourage this tendency because I think the general population of Hong Kong rely to a very large extent on newspapers and magazines and in fact these pitches could be taken as sort of small scale libraries.

MR. SHUM (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, regarding the start from 1976, I think the year should be 1972 and not 1976. Regarding the second part of the question, as to when hawkers have found suitable sites and why they are not given any licences. I think I can only answer Mr. CHOI in this way, I believe quite a number of newspaper hawkers are still looking for suitable sites and of course we would find sites for them and they would also find sites on their own behalf. In the present circumstances, a lot of hawkers who asked to move their sites, have not been able to find suitable sites. So, I think it's a rather difficult problem for them to settle. As regard to whether we should issue new licences, I think that would be kept under constant review by the Urban Council. For instance, the question has been discussed in the September meeting of the relevant select committee and the decision reached then was that we should still stick to the policy which we have decided. So, until we have new ideas we will not discuss it again.

MR. LAU (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Mr. CHOI as regarding to the 200 000 odd copies of newspapers, does that include the N.T. as well, also is it possible for shops in the housing estates to sell news- papers without having to get a licence from the Urban Council?

MR. CHOI (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I think Mr. LAU has mixed up certain points here, it is 2.1 million copies and not 200 000. Mr. LaU can get confirmation from the newspaper Hawker Association and the figures I've got is supplied to me by the association. Of course, I am not in the trade, I don't know what are the details, but I hope Mr. LAU could investigate. MR. YOUNG (in Cantonese):~Mr. Chairman, I think it's the Urban Council's policy to encourage the newspaper hawkers to sell newspapers in the ferry concourse or inside the MTR. I think there is always a misconception among the general population in Hong Kong, that is they would have to pay more when they buy newspapers from a shop rather than from a hawker. So, could it be confirmed that the prices for newspapers are all the same for those which obtained from shops or from hawkers?

(Mr. CHAN Chi-kwan arrived during Mr. Howard YOUNG's address.) CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Are you trying to ask Mr. SHUM for his personal opinion or the opinion of the Urban Council?

MR. SHUM (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, according to my information, newspapers which could be obtained from shops or from hawkers are at the same price. May be at a more remote places, the price is higher, because of transportation costs.