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D. Noise pollution—

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

(1) Quite a noise is made by customers and there may even be cases of

nuisance caused by drunken men.

(2) The noise of stallholders soliciting customers is a nuisance.

(3) Some of the customers are taxi-drivers who sometimes stop and check their cars in front of the stalls. Noise pollution is resulted when they start the engines or accidentally touch the horns.

E. Environmental hygiene--

(1) Remains of food on the ground attract rats while greasy water may cause

passers-by to slip.

(2) Remains of food and grease block drainage.

F. Appearance of the district--

The stalls which are placed disorderly and unsystematically mar the appearance of the area. The stalls also attract a large number of bad elements.

G. Throwing from heights-

Residents awakened by the noise sometimes throw down objects to stop those eating below from making too much noise.

These food stalls operating on roadside at night can be divided into two groups: food stalls which are licensed but illegally place the food and utensils onto the pavement, and food stalls which are unlicensed.

The present way to deal with these nocturnal roadside cooked-food stalls is, in accordance with the Summary Offences Ordinance, to prosecute by summonses food stalls that illegally occupy the pavement. For a food stall which contravenes the law three times in succession, the licence will be suspended for two days. A further three offences in succession will incur suspension of licence for four days. Still another three offences, the licence will be cancelled. As for unlicensed food stalls, their goods are confiscated and operators prosecuted.

The above measure has been in force for many years. But instead of declining, the number of nocturnal roadside cooked food stalls is increasing continually. To tackle the problem, my suggestions are

(1) Amend existing regulations to the effect that an offence within a period of six months will incur suspension of licence for one day; two offences will incur suspension for three days and three offences cancellation of licence.

(2) Raise substantially the fines on food premises that have contravened the law and the illegal roadside stalls that operate at night.

(3) Step up enforcement action and station the General Duties Teams to the black spots. In this connexion, I have repeatedly contacted the USD staff in the district. The reply is that due to the shortage of staff, it is

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impossible to assign more staff to assist in the matter and therefore the situation is not fully under control. I very much hope the officers concerned understand what a nuisance these cooked-food stalls are to residents in Mong Kok and assign more staff to tackle the problem.

(4) Designate, if feasible, the roadsides taken up by the illegal cooked-food stalls into parking spaces.

(5) Send more policemen to patrol the area and to take blitz actions against those who park illegally and prosecute them for deterrent effect. Sir, I support your motion.

MISS FOR PUI-YEE (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, in Hong Kong where the population is getting old and social security inadequate, Central Provident Funds should be set up to safeguard the living of the retired workers at old age. The definition of 'social security' given by the Secretariat of the International Labour Organization is: 'the kind of protection offered by a proper social organization to the people who have encountered certain unforeseeable events which are beyond the control of the lower-income individuals with their own capability and foresight or even with the help of their friends and relatives.' In line with this definition, the protection against such 'unforeseeable events' provided by the existing social security scheme in Hong Kong include allowances for the handicapped, compensation for injuries and deaths arising from certain kinds of accidents, violence and law enforcement, urgent relief to victims of natural disasters, allowances for the aged and lower-income people etc. The recent Long Service Gratuity Scheme aims at protecting people being dismissed after their long services. However, as everyone has to face the problems arising from retirement, what protection is offered to them by the society? Of the developed industrial countries, the United States set up social security scheme as early as the 30's, and Britain did the same in the 40's to provide comprehensive contributory social security. in Germany, even artists are protected. At present, there are 15 developing countries having Central Provident Fund Scheme to provide against retirement, disability, funeral, illness, maternity and unemployment. These countries include Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Uganda etc. Though not so advanced as the European and American countries, Hong Kong is an important financial and commercial centre in South East Asia with industries developing towards high technology and diversification. However, social security in Hong Kong is not so developed, even compared with the Third World countries. The so-called social security in Hong Kong is still in the form of 'relief'. Manpower and skilled workers play a very important role in the development of Hong Kong's trade and industry. with a good social security scheme, people will be more devoted to promote the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.

Now I am going to weigh the merits and demerits of Central Provident Funds to assess whether it is the right time and Hong Kong the right place to implement the scheme.