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CHAIRMAN (in English):-Are you going to ask one by one or all five of your ...
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):--If you like, all five together.
The second is in respect of paragraph 4, long paragraph, would you agree when you say 'Consequently one squad was detailed to carry out static patrol duties in Kam Wah Street area in the afternoon while the morning shift continued to be covered by raiding operations' that this does not work and that the majority now hawk in the morning.
Also, on paragraph 4 of the English version. When you say that the headcount is less in December last year and in March this year, what time of the day were these headcounts counted?
Then on paragraph 5, speaking about the GDT teams strength and the blackspots, you say 'However, the Department will continue to regularly review the situation', just what does this mean?
The last one is part 2, paragraph 6. You say 'Generally speaking, given the hawking and other activities in the area, the sanitary condition of the street is considered to be acceptable'. Any improvement possible in the future?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, regarding the first question raised by Mr. BERNACCHI, since it is such a viable hawking location, well I do not really understand his question what he really wants me to answer.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):—Perhaps I can clarify. It is the word 'some'. 'Some' denotes in English 'a little', not severe hawking problem whereas a lot would be a more appropriate expression in view of the number of unlicensed hawkers that are in this area.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—I think Mr. BERNACCHI means that since this is such a viable hawking location, it inevitably attracts a lot of unlicensed hawkers. What do you think about it? Will be consider accepting his amended version.
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Yes, we will consider accepting his amended version.
Regarding the second question of whether we will agree that our measures have not been affected. I do not agree to that. It is because according to the information given by the Department, after the implementation of the new measures, even though we do not have static patrol duties in the morning shift, we have already been able to achieve some deterrent effect. Because in the morning shift, some raiding operations have already been carried out.
As regards the third question on the time of the headcount exercise, if Mr. BERNACCHI is really interested in the exact timing, perhaps I can give him the information after the meeting since I do not have the information at hand. If he thinks that we need to disclose the information to the public, then at the next meeting of the Select Committee, I will make it available to the public.
As regards the regular review, I agree that Mr. BERNACCHI does have a point here. But because of the limitation on resources and manpower, we are unable to provide a static patrol squad in the morning section. If the situation deteriorates, then I am sure we will look at the situation again. As regards the regular review, we ask the Department to closely monitor the situation to see if it deteriorates.
Fifthly, regarding the sanitary condition of the street, I say that it is acceptable. According to our existing standard the Department is able to prove to us that it is acceptable. Of course, if Mr. BERNACCHI feels that it is not acceptable or inadequate, I will definitely follow-up on that.
4.
MS. ANNA TANG KING-YUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese): In recent years, the problem of unlicensed expatriate hawkers has become increasingly serious as busy spots such as the Star Ferry Pier, Causeway Bay and MTR stations have come under their occupation. This has created an eyesore and may also give a bad impression to foreign visitors that Hong Kong is a disorderly city. These unlicensed hawkers are tourists from Nepal, the Philippines, Italy and other countries, and the problem has become an issue of public concern. In this connection, I would like to ask the following questions:
(1) How many arrests of expatriate hawkers have been made by the Department in the past 2 years?
(2) How many expatriate hawkers have been convicted of illegal hawking in the past 2 years?
(3) What are the plans of the Department to tackle the unlicensed expatriate hawkers?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, this is a three-part question concerning unlicensed foreign hawkers.
The first question asks about the number of arrests and convictions of foreign hawkers in the last two years. According to Departmental statistics, in 1991 and 1992 altogether 587 foreign hawkers were arrested and among whom 520 were convicted. For the first quarter of 1993, 85 foreign hawkers were arrested and 78 convicted. In addition to arrest action, in 1991 and 1992, we have also taken actions against foreigners for unlicensed hawking within six UC leisure grounds, altogether 303 summons were successfully taken out against these foreigners, and 167 were successfully taken out against this foreigners.
As regards the last part of the question concerning any special measures to deal with unlicensed foreign hawkers, the Council's current hawker policies and arrest procedures are applicable equally to foreign hawkers and local hawkers. A person who commits the offence of unlicensed hawking is subject to arrest
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CHAIRMAN (in English):-Are you going to ask one by one or all five of your . .
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):--If you like, all five together.
The second is in respect of paragraph 4, long paragraph, would you agree when you say 'Consequently one squad was detailed to carry out static patrol duties in Kam Wah Street area in the afternoon while the morning shift continued to be covered by raiding operations' that this does not work and that the majority now hawk in the morning.
Also, on paragraph 4 of the English version. When you say that the headcount is less in December last year and in March this year, what time of the day were these headcounts counted?
Then on paragraph 5, speaking about the GDT teams strength and the blackspots, you say 'However, the Department will continue to regularly review the situation', just what does this mean?
The last one is part 2, paragraph 6. You say 'Generally speaking, given the hawking and other activities in the area, the sanitary condition of the street is considered to be acceptable'. Any improvement possible in the future?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, regarding the first question raised by Mr. BERNACCHI, since it is such a viable hawking location, well I do not really understand his question what he really wants me to answer.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):—Perhaps I can clarify. It is the word 'some'. 'Some' denotes in English 'a little', not severe hawking problem whereas a lot would be a more appropriate expression in view of the number of unlicensed hawkers that are in this area.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—I think Mr. BERNACCHI means that since this is such a viable hawking location, it inevitably attracts a lot of unlicensed hawkers. What do you think about it? Will be consider accepting his amended version.
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Yes, we will consider accepting his amended version.
Regarding the second question of whether we will agree that our measures have not been affected. I do not agree to that. It is because according to the information given by the Department, after the implementation of the new measures, even though we do not have static patrol duties in the morning shift, we have already been able to achieve some deterrent effect. Because in the morning shift, some raiding operations have already been carried out.
As regards the third question on the time of the headcount exercise, if Mr. BERNACCHI is really interested in the exact timing, perhaps I can give him the information after the meeting since I do not have the information at hand. If he
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thinks that we need to disclose the information to the public, then at the next meeting of the Select Committee, I will make it available to the public.
As regards the regular review, I agree that Mr. BERNACCHI does have a point here. But because of the limitation on resources and manpower, we are unable to provide a static patrol squad in the morning section. If the situation deteriorates, then I am sure we will look at the situation again. As regards the regular review, we ask the Department to closely monitor the situation to see if it deteriorates.
Fifthly, regarding the sanitary condition of the street, I say that it is acceptable. According to our existing standard the Department is able to prove to us that it is acceptable. Of course, if Mr. BERNACCHI feels that it is not acceptable or inadequate, I will definitely follow-up on that.
4.
MS. ANNA TANG KING-YUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese): In recent years, the problem of unlicensed expatriate hawkers has become increasingly serious as busy spots such as the Star Ferry Pier, Causeway Bay and MTR stations have come under their occupation. This has created an eyesore and may also give a bad impression to foreign visitors that Hong Kong is a disorderly city. These unlicensed hawkers are tourists from Nepal, the Philippines, Italy and other countries, and the problem has become an issue of public concern. In this connection, I would like to ask the following questions:
(1) How many arrests of expatriate hawkers have been made by the Department
in the past 2 years?
(2) How many expatriate hawkers have been convicted of illegal hawking in the
past 2 years?
(3) What are the plans of the Department to tackle the unlicensed expatriate
hawkers?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, this is a three-part question concerning unlicensed foreign hawkers.
The first question asks about the number of arrests and convictions of foreign hawkers in the last two years. According to Departmental statistics, in 1991 and 1992 altogether 587 foreign hawkers were arrested and among whom 520 were convicted. For the first quarter of 1993, 85 foreign hawkers were arrested and 78 convicted. In addition to arrest action, in 1991 and 1992, we have also taken actions against foreigners for unlicensed hawking within six UC leisure grounds, altogether 303 summons were successfully taken out against these foreigners, and 167 were successfully taken out against this foreigners.
As regards the last part of the question concerning any special measures to deal with unlicensed foreign hawkers, the Council's current hawker policies and arrest procedures are applicable equally to foreign hawkers and local hawkers. A person who commits the offence of unlicensed hawking is subject to arrest
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