1989 — Page 6

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

which have really been stretched to the limit, the Department can do no more than what we are doing now.

MR. STEPHEN F. C. Ho (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, concerning illegal hawking at night, we have the same problem in Mong Kok for instance, in Sai Yeung Choi Street as well as Portland Street. When we seek help, the Police usually replies that their first priority is to enforce law and order; control of illegal hawkers comes second. As regards the reply given by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN about noise nuisances caused by hawkers at night, fundamentally, we have to deal with the problem at its own root and we need a system to control the hawkers who cause the noise nuisances. If there are control measures to deal with the night time hawking, I think the situation can be improved.

CHAIRMAN (in English):----Mr. Hilton, it is not much a supplementary, but you can try.

MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I think the question refers only to Wan Chai. But on the point which has just been raised, I think it could be referred to the Select Committee for further discussion. I can only state, Mr. Chairman, that there is a continuing discussion between the Urban Council and the USD together with the Government on strengthening the resources of the GDT and we also have a special Committee on Hawkers which has been chaired by Mrs. E. Tu for the past few years which has expressed concern with the problem and so we shall continue to bring all our efforts to try to find more definite solutions to this problem in all districts including Mong Kok.

MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I have three questions to ask. Would you like I ask together or separately?

Chairman (in English):—For those short supplementaries once at a time I think. Supplementaries I hope.

MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):- Yes, indeed. The first is: I would like to ask the Chairman of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee where he gets the information from that during the normal working hours of the GDT from 8.15 a.m. to 10.15 p.m., the area generally is being maintained hawker-free, I think, it means illegal hawker-free? Where does he get that information?

MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, this is based on information from the Urban Services Department staff on the ground and there is no reason to disbelieve that. Also I think we are speaking only Wan Chai, may I remind my colleague, Mr. BERNACCHI.

MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):—Yes, it is different in Chai Wan. The next question is: why does this group with the USD and the Police only confine itself to MTR exits after 10.15 at night?

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-It is implied that it does not confine itself to the MTR exits. As mentioned in the reply, there have been joint efforts to control the problem in these three streets which I have mentioned that the problem is more serious, i.e. Great George Street, Kai Chiu Road and Paterson Street.

MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):—That takes to the part of the last question. Why was the last operation held on the 20 of February when we are now the 11 of April?

MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):---Mr. Chairman, I think this has to do with the resources of the Police and the GDT within the area. But I am glad, Mr. BERNACCHI, did raise a supplementary because I do think if the problem is continuing, there could be more joint operations at closer periods rather than having them over an extended period. We will certainly bring up this point to the Department.

MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, we have heard the word 'resources' twice this afternoon. If the resources were of the Police Department, we can't do anything about it. If the resources were of the USD, would it be human resources or financial resources? If that is of the latter, can we raise our fees in licensing so as to cover the resources.

MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—I think we are speaking primarily of the GDT which are available to the Department, but the suggestion put forward by raising fees is discussed every year and I think we will note the point. We will discuss it when the next time comes around to review the hawker fees.

DR. THE HON. ELSIE TU (in English):—Mr. Chairman, if you don't mind, as the Chairman of the Working Party, may I just say this whole problem of how to deal with hawkers at night is being discussed with the Special Group set up by the Chief Secretary. There is the resources problem on both sides, mainly financial, but also a problem of how the whole situation on hawking is going to be controlled, and a final result has not yet been established by the Chief Secretary's Working Group. Until that is decided, I don't think the USD or the Council can make any further steps forward. We do what we can with the help of the Police. But as to the final question of how we deal with it, and who pays for it, until these two problems are settled, I think we just are more or less at a dead end.

2. MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):—

(a) To what extent is asbestos-based materials in Urban Council facilities and venues a problem or danger to public health?

(b)

(c)

How many Urban Council venues constitute a serious health risk or hazard? What are the short-term plans and long-term plans to deal with the situation?