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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
VICE-CHAIRMAN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, before the formal proceedings on the agenda, I would like on behalf of all other Members of the Council to propose a vote of congratulation on the Chairman on being made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in Her Majesty's the Queen's Birthday Honours List. (Applause)
CHAIRMAN (In English): Thank you.
## MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 11 June 1991, were confirmed.
## PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of June 1991.
(Mr. Daniel K. T. WONG arrived at 2.31 p.m.)
## QUESTIONS
1. MR. DANIEL WONG KWOK-TUNG asked the following question (In English):—I have received a petition from all hawkers trading at the Yau Ma Tei Jade Market asking for the improvement to the lighting system by installation of individual meters. On a recent site inspection, I discovered that the problem is in fact very urgent since the safety of hawkers and customers or even by-standers are at stake. I therefore would like to ask the Council whether any steps have been taken to meet with the requests outlined in the petition.
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):
This question concerns the problem of lighting in the Jade Hawker Bazaar in Kansu Street, Yaumatei and the request of the traders that individual electric meters be installed to meet their specific trade related need for additional lighting.
The petition referred to is in the form of a letter dated 30 May 1991 from the Hong Kong and Kowloon Jade Merchants Union Association to the Director of Urban Services. The petitioners acknowledge that at present many traders are using portable battery units to supply electric current for additional lighting, but consider this to be a temporary solution and are concerned that in the long term this arrangement may pose safety problems.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
53
The Jade Hawker Bazaar in Kansu Street, Yaumatei, which came into operation in March 1984, occupies two sites with a total of 460 pitches. Sufficient general illumination in the form of fluorescent lights is provided by the Council during the business hours of the Bazaar. However, as the hawkers are trading in different varieties of jadeware and precious stones, many of them have made use of portable battery units to provide power to their own spotlights which are removed at the close of each day's trading. I believe that many operators have installed secondary lighting not because the communal lighting system is inadequate, but because the traders have found that different spotlights can be used to enhance the appearance and colour of the items they are trading.
There are no grounds for concern regarding the safety of the existing arrangements. In May 1990, the Department requested the Chief Building Services Engineer of the Architectural Services Department to study the lighting installations in the Bazaar. In the opinion of the Chief Building Services Engineer, the supply of direct current at 12 volts from the battery units poses no safety problem.
The Chief Building Services Engineer has also explored the feasibility of having different lighting with different colour rendering effects provided centrally by the Council. The finding is that, as different types of spotlights have been adopted by the traders to suit the particular features of their goods, it would be quite impracticable for the Council to install different types of spotlights to suit the needs of each hawker.
However, if the traders find that they have a strong preference for operating their spotlight system through the supply of alternate current electricity from individual meters, they should apply, through approved electrical contractors, to the China Light and Power Company Ltd. and the Department will request the Architectural Services Department to study with the power company the technical aspects of installation. This position has been conveyed to the traders at previous consultation meetings, and district staff of the Department are liaising with the traders' representatives again to advise them on how to proceed. The Department will be very pleased to assist the power company and the Architectural Services Department to deal with the details.
2.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question (in English):-In the course of my recent election campaign, I was often asked about the Urban Council supporting the creation of local city halls for big communities like that at Chaiwan. I gave a true, but rather negative answer, even at the cost of losing votes. However, now that the District Office does not financially support community centres, could there be an investigation carried out by the Urban Services Department as to the possibility of converting some of the bigger community halls into such city halls under the Urban Council especially for local community entertainments.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
VICE-CHAIRMAN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, before the formal proceedings on the agenda, I would like on behalf of all other Members of the Council to propose a vote of congratulation on the Chairman on being made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in Her Majesty's the Queen's Birthday Honours List. (Applause)
CHAIRMAN (In English): Thank you.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 11 June 1991, were confirmed.
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and
Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of June 1991.
(Mr. Daniel K. T. WONG arrived at 2.31 p.m.)
QUESTIONS
1. MR. DANIEL WONG KWOK-TUNG asked the following question (In English):—I have received a petition from all hawkers trading at the Yau Ma Tei Jade Market asking for the improvement to the lighting system by installation of individual meters. On a recent site inspection, I discovered that the problem is in fact very urgent since the safety of hawkers and customers or even by-standers are at stake. I therefore would like to ask the Council whether any steps have been taken to meet with the requests outlined in the petition.
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):
This question concerns the problem of lighting in the Jade Hawker Bazaar in Kansu Street, Yaumatei and the request of the traders that individual electric meters be installed to meet their specific trade related need for additional lighting.
The petition referred to is in the form of a letter dated 30 May 1991 from the Hong Kong and Kowloon Jade Merchants Union Association to the Director of Urban Services. The petitioners acknowledge that at present many traders are using portable battery units to supply electric current for additional lighting, but consider this to be a temporary solution and are concerned that in the long term this arrangement may pose safety problems.
Page 31 of 126
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
53
The Jade Hawker Bazaar in Kansu Street, Yaumatei, which came into operation in March 1984, occupies two sites with a total of 460 pitches. Sufficient general illumination in the form of flourescent lights is provided by the Council during the business hours of the Bazaar. However, as the hawkers are trading in different varieties of jadeware and precious stones, many of them have made use of portable battery units to provide power to their own spotlights which are removed at the close of each day's trading. I believe that many operators have installed secondary lighting not because the communal lighting system is inadequate, but because the traders have found that different spotlights can be used to enhance the appearance and colour of the items they are trading.
There are no grounds for concern regarding the safety of the existing arrangements. In May 1990, the Department requested the Chief Building Services Engineer of the Architectural Services Department to study the lighting installations in the Bazaar. In the opinion of the Chief Building Services Engineer, the supply of direct current at 12 volts from the battery units poses no safety problem.
The Chief Building Services Engineer has also explored the feasibility of having different lighting with different colour rendering effects provided centrally by the Council. The finding is that, as different types of spotlights have been adopted by the traders to suit the particular features of their goods, it would be quite impracticable for the Council to install different types of spotlights to suit the needs of each hawker.
However, if the traders find that they have a strong preference for operating their spotlight system through the supply of alternate current electricity from individual meters, they should apply, through approved electrical contractors, to the China Light and Power Company Ltd. and the Department will request the Architectural Services Department to study with the power company the technical aspects of installation. This position has been conveyed to the traders at previous consultation meetings, and district staff of the Department are liaising with the traders' representatives again to advise them on how to proceed. The Department will be very pleased to assist the power company and the Architectural Services Department to deal with the details.
2.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question (in English):-In the course of my recent election campaign, I was often asked about the Urban Council supporting the creation of local city halls for big communities like that at Chaiwan. I gave a true, but rather negative answer, even at the cost of losing votes. However, now that the District Office does not financially support community centres, could there be an investigation carried out by the Urban Services Department as to the possibility of converting some of the bigger community halls into such city halls under the Urban Council especially for local community entertainments.
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