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MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I am sure that a lot of young persons, even the middle age persons, would not like to continue in the hawking trade when these enhanced measures mentioned by VCUC do commence to play. Could the VCUC give us some ideas as to when licensing would be re-opened and how soon would it be possible for the enhanced enforcement measures to commence to play together with the proposed realistic financial penalties?
DR. THE HONOURABLE ELSIE TU (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I am very glad that Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN asked that question because I have been asking it too. I am very concerned that we don't seem to have been making any headway on it. We have a special group set up by the Chief Secretary as you know and chaired by the Secretary for Municipal Services. We haven't had a meeting for many months. We were promised a meeting next week. So far, I haven't seen any papers and we cannot move a step forward until we have the plan before us so we can find out what they are going to do about training our men to take stronger action. It would require more training, better pay, better conditions, better uniforms and many other points. This has been under consideration for months and months but so far I haven't seen any papers.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, with the full support of all Members of this Council, would it be possible for you to take this up with the Government as a matter of urgency?
DR. THE HONOURABLE ELSIE TU (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I have been in constant touch both with our own department and the Municipal Services Branch and they keep saying we are going to have a meeting soon. But up to now it hasn't materialized. If it continues like this, I think we may have to ask the CUC to approach the Chief Secretary.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—I can give that assurance.
2. MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):—Has a suitable site been found yet for the temporary resiting of the Wong Nai Chung Market stall-holders, so that plans to redevelop the Wong Nai Chung Market can be put into effect without further delay?
DR. THE HONOURABLE ELSIE TU, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):—The question asks whether a suitable site has been found for the temporary resiting of the Wong Nai Chung Market stall-holders so that plans to redevelop the Wong Nai Chung Market can be put into effect without further delay.
The search for a suitable reprovisioning site for the Wong Nai Chung Market has been undertaken as a joint effort by various government departments for many years. I am sure Mr. CHEONG-LEEN knows. A thorough discussion on the subject was again held at the Wan Chai District Management Committee Meeting on 26 July this year. The meeting concluded that apart from resumption, there is only one possible vacant Crown Land site available for the temporary reprovisioning. This site, behind the Happy Valley Police Station was identified years ago for the purpose, but was ruled out then because of its inadequate size and remoteness from residents. However, given the reduction in the number of lessees/hawkers in recent years, and that this is the only available Crown Land site, the Department agreed to consult the licensed hawkers and the cooked food stall operators in the market concerning this suggestion. The general response confirms the Department's observation all along: that the site is too remote to be viable. The Department, nevertheless, asked the market lessees to reconsider this site on the condition that priority will be given for re-allocation of stalls to the existing lessees and operators in the new market upon redevelopment. There are at the moment only three options:
(a) To resite on the Crown Land site behind the Happy Valley Police Station as proposed;
(b) To move stall-holders to other UC markets in the district; or
(c) One which is not an acceptable option for the lessees, to terminate their licences or leases.
Another consultative meeting will be held in December 1988.
Failing the identification of a satisfactory temporary reprovisioning site, it may be necessary to seek resumption of private land in the vicinity to build a new market. However, this alternative is time consuming and may meet with objections from affected occupiers.
3. MR. RONNIE M. C. WONG asked the following question (in English):—According to a Government survey, the number of antiques and cultural relics smuggled into Hong Kong this year is equivalent to the total of those smuggled in during the last 4 or 5 years. May I know how the Council can ensure that the antiques and cultural relics collected for the museums of the Council are obtained through proper legal channels?
DR. PHILIP C. K. KWOK, CHAIRMAN OF THE MUSEUMS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):—This question deals with the acquisition of items for the Council's museums.
As Members of this Council are well aware, there are established procedures for the acquisition of items for the Council's museums. In essence, these procedures involve the careful vetting and assessment, by experts, of every item as to its authenticity, artistic merit, price, physical condition, durability, availability, display value, and suitability for acquisition. Furthermore, to ensure legitimacy, acquisition has for the most part been from auction houses of international standing and reputable dealers, which guarantee legality of the sources of their goods.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I am sure that a lot of young persons, even the middle age persons, would not like to continue in the hawking trade when these enhanced measures mentioned by VCUC do commence to play. Could the VCUC give us some ideas as to when licensing would be re-opened and how soon would it be possible for the enhanced enforcement measures to commence to play together with the proposed realistic financial penalties?
DR. THE HONOURABLE ELSIE TU (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I am very glad that Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN asked that question because I have been asking it too. I am very concerned that we don't seem to have been making any headway on it. We have a special group set up by the Chief Secretary as you know and chaired by the Secretary for Municipal Services. We haven't had a meeting for many months. We were promised a meeting next week. So far, I haven't seen any papers and we cannot move a step forward until we have the plan before us so we can find out what they are going to do about training our men to take stronger action. It would require more training, better pay, better conditions, better uniforms and many other points. This has been under consideration for months and months but so far I haven't seen any papers.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, with the full support of all Members of this Council, would it be possible for you to take this up with the Government as a matter of urgency?
DR. THE HONOURABLE ELSIE TU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I have been in constant touch both with our own department and the Municipal Services Branch and they keep saying we are going to have a meeting soon. But up to now it hasn't materialized. If it continues like this, I think we may have to ask the CUC to approach the Chief Secretary.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—I can give that assurance.
2. MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):—Has a suitable site been found yet for the temporary resiting of the Wong Nai Chung Market stall-holders, so that plans to redevelop the Wong Nai Chung Market can be put into effect without further delay?
DR. THE HONOURABLE ELSIE TU, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-The question asks whether a suitable site has been found for the temporary resiting of the Wong Nai Chung Market stall-holders so that plans to redevelop the Wong Nai Chung Market can be put into effect without further delay.
The search for a suitable reprovisioning site for the Wong Nai Chung Market has been undertaken as a joint effort by various government departments for many years. I am sure Mr. CHEONG-LEEN knows. A thorough discussion on the
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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203
subject was again held at the Wan Chai District Management Committee Meeting on 26 July this year. The meeting concluded that apart from resump- tion, there is only one possible vacant Crown Land site available for the temporary reprovisioning. This site, behind the Happy Valley Police Station was identified years ago for the purpose, but was ruled out then because of its inadequate size and remoteness from residents. However, given the reduction in the number of lessees/hawkers in recent years, and that this is the only available Crown Land site, the Department agreed to consult the licensed hawkers and the cooked food stall operators in the market concerning this suggestion. The general response confirms the Department's observation all along: that the site is too remote to be viable. The Department, nevertheless, asked the market lessees to reconsider this site on the condition that priority will be given for re-allocation of stalls to the existing lessees and operators in the new market upon redevelopment. There are at the moment only three options:
(a) To resite on the Crown Land site behind the Happy Valley Police Station
as proposed;
(b) To move stall-holders to other UC markets in the district; or (c) One which is not an acceptable option for the lessees, to terminate their
licences or leases.
Another consultative meeting will be held in December 1988.
Failing the identification of a satisfactory temporary reprovisioning site, it may be necessary to seek resumption of private land in the vicinity to build a new market. However, this alternative is time consuming and may meet with objections from affected occupiers.
3. MR. RONNIE M. C. WONG asked the following question (in English):— According to a Government survey, the number of antiques and cultural relics smuggled into Hong Kong this year is equivalent to the total of those smuggled in during the last 4 or 5 years. May I know how the Council can ensure that the antiques and cultural relics collected for the museums of the Council are obtained through proper legal channels?
DR. PHILIP C. K. KWOK, CHAIRMAN OF THE MUSEUMS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question deals with the acquisition of items for the Council's museums.
As Members of this Council are well aware, there are established procedures for the acquisition of items for the Council's museums. In essence, these procedures involve the careful vetting and assessment, by experts, of every item as to its authenticity, artistic merit, price, physical condition, durability, availability, display value, and suitability for acquisition. Furthermore, to ensure legitimacy, acquisition has for the most part been from auction houses of international standing and reputable dealers, which guarantee legality of the sources of their goods.
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