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Given Police priorities, the Department has been able to mount joint operations with them on an average of once a month. After further discussion with the Police, agreement has recently been reached that with effect from 1.6.91, the frequency of these joint operations would be increased to twice a month. Ideally, more frequent joint operations with the Police would be most helpful, and the Department will continue to encourage this. Nevertheless, we recognize the Police are themselves having difficulties in terms of resources and have their own priorities. We shall seek more Police support whenever possible.
Since the change of strategy mentioned above has just been implemented, the Department will monitor the situation closely to assess its effectiveness before planning the next move. As and when the situation warrants, the Department will consider introducing staggered shift hours for the GDT in Kwun Tong so as to keep the streets at the Town Centre under control as late into the evening as possible. However, this would almost certainly have to be done at the expense of some essential hawker control duties in other Kwun Tong areas during the day time. The Department will therefore consider the various side-effects very carefully and the practical arrangements that may be required before a decision is taken to extend the GDT hours.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):--I would like to ask Mr. CHAN is there anywhere in the urban areas where the illegal hawker problem is under control? He twice mentioned to keep under control. Is there anywhere the illegal hawker question is under control?
(Mr. PAO PING-WING arrived at 2.50 p.m.)
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese):- Thank you, Mr. BERNACCHI. Mr. BERNACCHI asked the question concerning illegal hawkers being under control in other areas. I can cite an example. The Dim Sum area where it used to have a very serious late night hawker problem has been brought under control.
MR. LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, in summer the problem of illegal cooked-food stalls would be detrimental to public health. In Kwun Tong, the situation has reached an intolerable extent. May I request the Department to arrange a site visit by Members with a view to coming up with some effective measures to tackle the late night illegal cooked food hawkers.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—This is a request, not a question.
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese): Some years ago, the Department provided the GDT with walkie talkie in order to have a more effective deployment. With the advancement of technology, a lot of the hawkers are now having mobile telephones. I wonder whether the MST S/C would consider some more effective communication facilities so that the mobile telephones owned by the hawkers will not affect the operation of our GDTS.
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MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. LAU'S question concerns the advancement in technology. Even though we try hard to improve our communication system, there is bound to be some loopholes being exploited by undesirable elements and this certainly invites a competition in modern telecommunication. I think that it is a very positive point. We will certainly consider Mr. LAU's view at the MST S/C meeting.
DR. THE HON. ELSIE TU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, Mr. LEE mentioned the danger of selling cooked food especially in the summer. Can any special publicity be given to this so that people are warned of the danger of eating from illegal hawkers?
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members may be aware that every summer we have posters discouraging people from patronising illegal cooked food centres or cooked food stalls. In this regard, we will certainly recommend to the Health Education Sub-Committee to strengthen the publicity.
MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, to be honest, I am quite disappointed with Mr. CHAN's reply. In fact, the problem of illegal hawking beyond the normal GDT duty hours has been raised by Members on several occasions. The Chairman of the Select Committee usually replied that certain limited enforcement action would be taken by government departments, which apparently failed to solve the whole problem. I would like to ask the Council on whether any positive and effective measures will be taken to tackle the illegal hawker problem. If no solution is in sight, the same question in other districts might be raised by Members in next month. I would like to know whether the Council will seriously consider this particular issue and find some effective means to solve the problem.
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese): Thank you, Mr. Ma. I share part of Mr. MA's opinion. The hawker problem has been in existence for over a hundred years. If members of the public continue to patronise illegal hawkers in Hong Kong, then we will have to spend a lot of resources than at present to tackle the problem. This would also be at the expense of other services. Mr. Li WAH-MING raised the question of illegal cooked food hawkers in Kwun Tong Town Centre at night time. If you are aware of the situation in Kwun Tong, there are a lot of hawkers in Kwun Tong because it is an industrial area. In the day time, there are many fast food vehicles and itinerant illegal hawkers operating in the vicinity of MTR station. If we concentrate the GDTs' limited resources solely at night time to increase the raiding operation, it might create loopholes during the day time and have a detrimental effect on the day time operation of the GDTS. As I said in the reply, the night time illegal hawking in Kwun Tong are solely illegal cooked food stalls. If we cannot obtain the co-operation of the Police, the GDT squads may be exposed to unnecessary risk. I agree that we should consider extending the GDT duty hours. However,
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there must be a limit because at night time, the GDT members have to travel back to home. We have to seriously consider the various side-effects and the practical arrangement that may be required before taking a decision to extend the GDT duty hours. Since joint operations with the Police have just been increased twice a month with effect from 1.6.1991, I think we should wait for a little while before having a review on more concrete solution.
MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese): Since we are hamstrung by so many difficulties and shortage of resources, I would like to know in the past whether we had sought more resources from the Central Government to tackle illegal hawking problems. On the other hand, if the Government fails to allocate more resources to us, do we still have to be responsible for managing this problem?
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese):-The responsibility of management of hawkers problem rests with the Urban Council. Since the Council is financially autonomous, I think we have to deploy the resources internally. Mr. MA also asked what are the effective measures to be taken by the Department. Actually we are reviewing the restructuring of the GDTs and hopefully this will strengthen the raiding operations to arrest illegal hawkers at night.
MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I would like to follow up Mr. Ma's question. The illegal cooked food hawkers in Kwun Tong has been a problem with us for quite some time. It is not a district but a territory-wide issue which gives rise to many transport, public order and environmental problems. The Council and the Urban Services Department have been trying their best to solve the problem but in vain. I would like to ask whether the Department has considered having a territory-wide shift system for the GDT squads in order to tackle the illegal hawkers problem. We are aware that where there are illegal hawkers, there must be triad elements. I would like to ask what measures or actions can be taken by the Police or the Department to effectively deal with the issue? The third question is: as regards the joint operation with the Police, as far as I am aware, Summary Offences Ordinance can be applied by the Police to arrest those hawkers who obstruct the streets. However, it seems to me that the Police has not made any enforcement in this regard. I wonder whether they have the power to take action or not if hawkers are obstructing the streets?
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, Mr. WONG has asked three questions. The first one concerns the duty hours of the GDT on a territory-wide basis. I think this question involves a rather comprehensive problem. Since the GDTS at the moment are hamstrung by the zero growth policy and I think this matter should be referred to the Select Committee for detailed discussion. As regards the second question on the relationship between illegal hawkers and triad elements, I am sure that all of us in this Chamber are aware of this. As to how the Police will deal with the issue, it is better to leave the matter to the Police for actions as the problem of triad societies is outside the ambit of this Council. The joint operation with the Police also mentioned
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Given Police priorities, the Department has been able to mount joint. operations with them on an average of once a month. After further discussion with the Police, agreement has recently been reached that with effect from 1.6.91, the frequency of these joint operations would be increased to twice a month. Ideally, more frequent joint operations with the Police would be most helpful, and the Department will continue to encourage this. Nevertheless, we recognize the Police are themselves having difficulties in terms of resources and have their own priorities. We shall seek more Police support whenever possible.
Since the change of strategy mentioned above has just been implemented, the Department will monitor the situation closely to assess its effectiveness before planning the next move. As and when the situation warrants, the Department will consider introducing staggered shift hours for the GDT in Kwun Tong so as to keep the streets at the Town Centre under control as late into the evening as possible. However, this would almost certainly have to be done at the expense of some essential hawker control duties in other Kwun Tong areas during the day time. The Department will therefore consider the various side-effects very carefully and the practical arrangements that may be required before a decision is taken to extend the GDT hours.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):--I would like to ask Mr. CHAN is there anywhere in the urban areas where the illegal hawker problem is under control? He twice mentioned to keep under control. Is there anywhere the illegal hawker question is under control?
(Mr. PAO PING-WING arrived at 2.50 p.m.)
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese):- Thank you, Mr. BERNACCHI. Mr. BERNACCHI asked the question concerning illegal hawkers being under control in other areas. I can cite an example. The Dimaru area where it used to have a very serious late night hawker problem has been brought under control.
MR. LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, in summer the problem of illegal cooked-food stalls would be detrimental to public health. In Kwun Tong, the situation has reached an intolerable extent. May I request the Department to arrange a site visit by Members with a view to coming up with some effective measures to tackle the late night illegal cooked food hawkers.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—This is a request, not a question.
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese): Some years ago, the Department provided the GDT with walkie talkie in order to have a more effective deployment. With the advancement of technology, a lot of the hawkers are now having mobile telephones. I wonder whether the MST S/C would consider some more effective communication facilities so that the mobile telephones owned by the hawkers will not affect the operation of our GDTS. Page 35 of 126
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1.
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MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. LAU'S question concerns the advancement in technology. Even though we try hard to improve our communication system, there is bound to be some loopholes being exploited by undesirable elements and this certainly invites a competition in modern telecommunication. I think that it is a very positive point. We will certainly consider Mr. LAU's view at the MST S/C meeting.
DR. THE HON. ELSIE TU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, Mr. LEE mentioned the danger of selling cooked food especially in the summer. Can any special publicity be given to this so that people are warned of the danger of eating from illegal hawkers?
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members may be aware that every summer we have posters discouraging people from patronising illegal cooked food centres or cooked food stalls. In this regard, we will certainly recommend to the Health Education Sub-Committee to strengthen the publicity.
MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, to be honest, I am quite disappointed with Mr. CHAN's reply. In fact, the problem of illegal hawking beyond the normal GDT duty hours has been raised by Members on several occasions. The Chairman of the Select Committee usually replied that certain limited enforcement action would be taken by government departments, which apparently failed to solve the whole problem. I would like to ask the Council on whether any positive and effective measures will be taken to tackle the illegal hawker problem. If no solution is in sight, the same question in other districts might be raised by Members in next month. I would like to know whether the Council will seriously consider this particular issue and find some effective means to solve the problem.
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese): Thank you, Mr. Ma. I share part of Mr. MA's opinion. The hawker problem has been in existence for over a hundred years. If members of the public continue to patronise illegal hawkers in Hong Kong, then we will have to spend a lot of resources than at present to tackle the problem. This would also be at the expense of other services. Mr. Li WAH-MING raised the question of illegal cooked food hawkers in Kwun Tong Town Centre at night time. If you are aware of the situation in Kwun Tong, there are a lot of hawkers in Kwun Tong because it is an industrial area. In the day time, there are many fast food vehicles and itinerant illegal hawkers operating in the vicinity of MTR station. If we concentrate the GDTs' limited resources solely at night time to increase the raiding operation, it might create loopholes during the day time and have a detrimental effect on the day time operation of the GDTS. As I said in the reply, the night time illegal hawking in Kwun Tong are solely illegal cooked food stalls. If we cannot obtain the co-operation of the Police, the GDT squads may be exposed to unnecessary risk. I agree that we should consider extending the GDT duty hours. However,
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there must be a limit because at night time, the GDT members have to travel back to home. We have to seriously consider the various side-effects and the practical arrangement that may be required before taking a decision to extend the GDT duty hours. Since joint operations with the Police have just been increased twice a month with effect from 1.6.1991, I think we should wait for a little while before having a review on more concrete solution.
MR. MA LEE-Wo (in Cantonese): Since we are hamstrung by so many difficulties and shortage of resources, I would like to know in the past whether we had sought more resources from the Central Government to tackle illegal hawking problems. On the other hand, if the Government fails to allocate more resources to us, do we still have to be responsible for managing this problem?
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese):-The responsibility of management of hawkers problem rests with the Urban Council. Since the Council is financially autonomous, I think we have to deploy the resources internally. Mr. MA also asked what are the effective measures to be taken by the Department. Actually we are reviewing the restructuring of the GDTs and hopefully this will strengthen the raiding operations to arrest illegal hawkers at night.
MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I would like to follow up Mr. Ma's question. The illegal cooked food hawkers in Kwun Tong has been a problem with us for quite some time. It is not a district but a territory-wide issue which gives rise to many transport, public order and environmental problems. The Council and the Urban Services Department have been trying their best to solve the problem but in vain. I would like to ask whether the Department has considered having a territory-wide shift system for the GDT squads in order to tackle the illegal hawkers problem. We are aware that where there are illegal hawkers, there must be triad elements. I would like to ask what measures or actions can be taken by the Police or the Department to effectively deal with the issue? The third question is: as regards the joint operation with the Police, as far as I am aware, Summary Offences Ordinance can be applied by the Police to arrest those hawkers who obstruct the streets. However, it seems to me that the Police has not made any enforcement in this regard. I wonder whether they have the · power to take action or not if hawkers are obstructing the streets?
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, Mr. WONG has asked three questions. The first one concerns the duty hours of the GDT on a territory-wide basis. I think this question involves a rather comprehensive problem. Since the GDTS at the moment are hamstrung by the zero growth policy and I think this matter should be referred to the Select Committee for detailed discussion. As regards the second question on the relationship between illegal hawkers and triad elements, I am sure that all of us in this Chamber are aware of this. As to how the Police will deal with the issue, it is better to leave the matter to the Police for actions as the problem of triad societies is outside the ambit of this Council. The joint operation with the Police also mentioned
Page 36 of 126
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