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And the second question is about the results of the survey. I can tell Mr. CHEUNG that I do not have the information on the report here, and so I cannot provide you with the information today. Yet I will ask the Department to submit the information to the MST Select Committee for discussion. Finally, concerning the mix of commodities in the market, this is a policy issue and the Department is now studying the commodities mix in the market. And we need to discuss such matters through various meetings of our working groups on market facilities. If we are to improve the commodities mix, I think we would have to discuss this issue at the Market Sub-Committee chaired by Mr. YIM. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
THE HON. LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I am not familiar with the Po On Road Market situation, but then generally speaking near markets shop extensions are a serious problem. Very often people criticise the Urban Council for not being able to maintain its efforts. After having mounted some operations the problems deteriorate again. And so I hope that Mr. Ip and his committee can review the effectiveness of summonses issued by the Department and whether these summonses can achieve a deterrent effect?
CHAIRMAN (in English): This is a declaration but not a question.
THE HON. LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese): I just want to ask whether the Committee can review the effectiveness of the summonses issued?
CHAIRMAN (in English): The answer will be 'yes'.
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese): To review the effectiveness of the summons will involve money. So it depends on whether the fine can achieve a deterrent effect and the MST S/C can definitely follow this up. But I think this is a matter for the Judiciary.
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I would like to follow up on the point raised by Mr. Li Wah-ming. Now in Hong Kong for private cars parked along the street, a summons will be issued and then after 3 hours another fixed penalty ticket can be issued. So I just want to know after one summons is issued when can another summons be issued by the Department?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese): If Mr. LAU feels that we need to issue more summonses, say to issue another summons after 3 hours I will be most happy to follow up at the MST Select Committee. Thank you.
6.
MR. AMBROSE CHEUNG WING-SUM asked the following question (in Cantonese): I have received an increasing number of complaints from residents of Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Lai Wan Market lessees on the increasing illegal hawking activities neighbouring the Lai Wan Market particularly in the morning and these activities have posed a serious threat to the viability of the Lai Wan Market. I would like to know what steps have been taken to deal with this problem?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): Thank you, Mr. Chairman and thank you Mr. CHEUNG for your questions. This question concerns the actions taken by the Department against illegal hawking activities in the vicinity of the Lai Wan Market.
The presence of GDT squads to protect market viability is always a very high departmental priority. Following the commissioning of the Lai Wan Market in October 1992, necessary steps were put in place and appropriate efforts have been stepped up to combat illegal hawking in the market vicinity. In addition to regular GDT raiding operations mounted in and around Mei Foo Sun Chuen area, one dedicated GDT squad on each shift has been deployed daily to protect the market during peak trading hours from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The hawker situation is generally brought under control during the GDT presence. However, before 7:30 a.m., some illegal hawking does occur near Lai Wan Market during early morning hours. To deter the problem within available resources, the Department carries out early morning joint operations with the police about three times per month on average at around 7 a.m. in the morning. Over the past 6 months, 46 arrests of illegal hawkers and 50 seizures were effected by the GDT near Lai Wan Market.
The Department will continue to monitor the hawker situation and the control strategy will be reviewed flexibly subject to the availability of resources and changing situation on the ground. Notwithstanding this tendency for early morning illegal street trading in the vicinity, the Department is satisfied that the overall viability of the Lai Wan Market is certainly not threatened to any significant extent.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. AMBROSE CHEUNG WING-SUM (in Cantonese): I have one follow-up question. Concerning Lai Wan Market before 7:30 a.m., there is early morning illegal trading. The problem has significance for Lam Cheong Street Market and it has also had to do with early morning trading in Tung Chau Street and Nam Cheong Street. Just then we have talked about the number of posts for the new grade of hawker control officers. My question has to do with the consideration of the establishment for the new grades. Have we taken into account the policy for handling early morning illegal hawking activities when the establishment of the new grade was considered? If the answer is in the negative, can we consider asking the relevant working party to follow up this issue?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese): Concerning the early morning illegal hawking activities, they exist not only in the vicinity of Lai Wan Market but
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¡
And the second question is about the results of the survey. I can tell Mr. CHEUNG that I do not have the information on the report here, and so I cannot provide you with the information today. Yet I will ask the Department to submit the information to the MST Select Committee for discussion. Finally, concerning the mix of commodities in the market, this is a policy issue and the Department is now studying the commodities mix in the market. And we need to discuss such matters through various meetings of our working groups on market facilities. If we are to improve the commodities mix, I think we would have to discuss this issue at the Market Sub-Committee chaired by Mr. Yıм. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
THE HON. LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I am not familiar with the Po On Road Market situation, but then generally speaking near markets shop extensions are a serious problem. Very often people criticise the Urban Council for not being able to maintain its efforts. After having mounted some operations the problems deteriorate again. And so I hope that Mr. Ip and his committee can review the effectiveness of summonses issued by the Department and whether these summonses can achieve a deterrent effect?
CHAIRMAN (in English):-This is a declaration but not a question.
THE HON. LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese):—I just want to ask whether the Committee can review the effectiveness of the summonses issued?
CHAIRMAN (in English):—The answer will be 'yes'.
MR. IP KOWK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-To review the effectiveness of the summons will involve money. So it depends on whether the fine can achieve a deterrent effect and the MST S/C can definitely follow this up. But I think this is a matter for the Judiciary.
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to follow up on the point raised by Mr. Li Wah-ming. Now in Hong Kong for private cars parked along the street, a summons will be issued and then after 3 hours another fixed penalty ticket can be issued. So I just want to know after one summons is issued when can another summons be issued by the Department?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-If Mr. LAU feels that we need to issue more summonses, say to issue another summons after 3 hours I will be most happy to follow up at the MST Select Committee. Thank you.
6.
MR. AMBROSE CHEUNG WING-SUM asked the following question (in Cantonese):--I have received increasing number of complaints from residents of Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Lai Wan Market lessees on the increasing illegal hawking activities neighbouring the Lai Wan Market particularly in the morning
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and these activities have posed serious threat to the viability of the Lai Wan Market. I would like to know what steps have been taken to deal with this problem?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): Thank you, Mr. Chairman and thank you Mr. CHEUNG for your questions. This question concerns the actions taken by the Department against illegal hawking activities in the vicinity of the Lai Wan Market.
The presence of GDT squads to protect market viability is always a very high departmental priority. Following the commissioning of the Lai Wan Market in October 1992, necessary steps were put in place and appropriate efforts have been stepped up to combat illegal hawking in the market vicinity. In addition to regular GDT raiding operations mounted in and around Mei Foo Sun Chuen area, one dedicated GDT squad on each shift has been deployed daily to protect the market during peak trading hours from 7.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The hawker situation is generally brought under control during the GDT presence. However, before 7.30 a.m., some illegal hawking does occur near Lai Wan Market during early morning hours. To deter the problem within available resources, the Department carries out early morning joint operations with the police about three times per month on average at around 7 a.m. in the morning. Over the past 6 months, 46 arrests of illegal hawkers and 50 seizures were effected by the GDT near Lai Wan Market.
The Department will continue to monitor the hawker situation and the control strategy will be reviewed flexibly subject to the availability of resources. and changing situation on the ground. Notwithstanding this tendency for early morning illegal street trading in the vicinity, the Department is satisfied that the overall viability of the Lai Wan Market is certainly not threatened to any significant extent.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. AMBROSE CHEUNG WING-SUM (in Cantonese):—I have one follow-up question. Concerning Lai Wan Market before 7.30 a.m., there is early morning illegal trading. The problem has significance for Lam Cheong Street Market and it has also had to do with early morning trading in Tung Chau Street and Nam Cheong Street. Just then we have talked about the number of posts for the new grade of hawker control officers. My question has to do with the consideration of the establishment for the new grades. Have we taken into account the policy for handling early morning illegal hawking activities when the establishment of the new grade was considered? If the answer is in the negative, can we consider asking the relevant working party to follow up this issue?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese): Concerning the early morning illegal hawking activities, they exist not only in the vicinity of Lai Wan Market but
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