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MRS. ELSIE TU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, seconded the motion (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I rise to second the motion.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, we have three motions regarding the revision of fees. I do not intend to comment on the revision of burial fees which is quite insignificant. I don't think the people of Hong Kong would object. As regards this motion, before the media gets the wrong idea concerning this proposal and imagines that all this Council does is to blindly increase fees, I wish to make a few points.
This proposal, on the face of it, 70 per cent seems a rather steep increase. However, it must be seen in its true light-there has been no adjustment in these fees since 1 March 1983, and since this proposal will not take effect until 1 July this year, this means that the hawkers concerned have enjoyed a period of no fewer than 50 months without any change. Look around us and tell me what else has not gone up in the past 50 months, and not just once but at least every 12 months, if not over a shorter period.
Secondly, the hawkers will still be enjoying an enormous subsidy from the Urban Council of more than $186 million at the ratepayers' expense. What a privileged group these hawkers seem to be! How lucky they have been in the past four years!
Now, to my final point...the fact is that the Council does not blindly increase fees and charges to cause inflation. And the proof of this can be seen in this Chamber today, where we as a Council will be reducing the licensing fees for billiard tables from $1,440 to $170 per table. That, Mr. Chairman-and members of the media-proves my point!
Sir, with these words, I support the motion.
MR. L. H. KWAN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, in connection with the motion to amend the Hawker By-law, I will not take a stand. I do not object nor do I support the motion. So I will abstain. The two main reasons are because I sympathize the increase of the hawker licensing fees because the last revision was only made in 1983. But the increase is in the region of 70 per cent so this is a very large increase and is going to affect the licence fee as well as their business. Secondly, I am rather uneasy. On the one hand we are faced with a lot of unlicensed hawkers so we need more General Duties Teams to control these hawkers and to increase the licence fees of the licensed hawkers who are law-abiding people. I don't really think the increase should be solely taken up by them. So that is why I am going to abstain from the motion.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I share the concerns expressed by Mr. KWAN and I too will abstain.
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CHAIRMAN (in English):-Before taking a vote, Mr. LEE, do you want to exercise your right of reply?
LEE CHIK-YUET (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I just want to add one point. This proposal now is that we have not increased the licence fees for four years and so if we divide the percentage, it is only about 20 per cent each year and I would just repeat the content of my speech. This has nothing to do with the recommendation that the Working Party on Hawker and Related Policies might make. In fact this is only a regular exercise of the Council to review our licence fee. Thank you.
The question was put.
The motion was carried with 24 votes for and 3 abstentions.
ADJOURNMENT-3.30 p.m.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-That concludes the business of today's meeting. The Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 14 April 1987 at 2.30 p.m.
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, HONG KONG
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MRS. ELSIE TU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, seconded the motion (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I rise to second
the motion.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, we have three motions regarding the revision of fees. I do not intend to comment on the revision of burial fees which is quite insignificant. I don't think the people of Hong Kong would object. As regards this motion, before the media gets the wrong idea concerning this proposal and imagines that all this Council does is to blindly increase fees, I wish to make a few points.
This proposal, on the face of it, 70 per cent seems a rather steep increase. However, it must be seen in its true light-there has been no adjustment in these fees since 1 March 1983, and since this proposal will not take effect until 1 July this year, this means that the hawkers concerned have enjoyed a period of no fewer than 50 months without any change. Look around us and tell me what else has not gone up in the past 50 months, and not just once but at least every 12 months, if not over a shorter period.
Secondly, the hawkers will still be enjoying an enormous subsidy from the Urban Council of more than $186 million at the ratepayers' expense. What a privileged group these hawkers seem to be! How lucky they have been in the past four years!
Now, to my final point...the fact is that the Council does not blindly increase fees and charges to cause inflation. And the proof of this can be seen in this Chamber today, where we as a Council will be reducing the licensing fees for billiard tables from $1,440 to $170 per table. That, Mr. Chairman-and members of the media-proves my point!
Sir, with these words, I support the motion.
MR. L. H. KWAN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, in connection with the motion to amend the Hawker By-law, I will not take a stand. I do not object nor do I support the motion. So I will abstain. The two main reasons are because I sympathize the increase of the hawker licensing fees because the last revision was only made in 1983. But the increase is in the region of 70 per cent so this is a very large increase and is going to affect the licence fee as well as their business. Secondly, I am rather uneasy. On the one hand we are faced with a lot of unlicensed hawkers so we need more General Duties Teams to control these hawkers and to increase the licence fees of the licensed hawkers who are law- abiding people. I don't really think the increase should be solely taken up by them. So that is why I am going to abstain from the motion.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I share the concerns expressed by Mr. KWAN and I too will abstain.
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CHAIRMAN (in English):-Before taking a vote, Mr. LEE, do you want to exercise your right of reply?
LEE CHIK-YUET (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I just want to add one point. This proposal now is that we have not increased the licence fees for four years and so if we divide the percentage, it is only about 20 per cent each year and I would just repeat the content of my speech. This has nothing to do with the recommendation that the Working Party on Hawker and Related Policies might make. In fact this is only a regular exercise of the Council to review our licence fee. Thank you.
The question was put.
The motion was carried with 24 votes for and 3 abstentions.
ADJOURNMENT-3.30 p.m.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-That concludes the business of today's meeting. The Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 14 April 1987 at 2.30 p.m.
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, HONG KONG
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