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they be prosecuted for illegal hawking instead of being required to pay the fine imposed by AFD?
Mr. JP Kwok-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—I can tell Mr. Wu that when USD officers arrest them, we will prosecute them for illegal hawking and street obstruction. Apart from that, their goods will also be confiscated. The actions are taken in accordance with the Municipal Services Ordinance. As regards legislation within the jurisdiction of AFD, they will be enforced by the AFD. USD cannot take prosecution actions under those legislation.
Ms. JENNIFER CHOW KIT-BING (in Cantonese):-I have a follow up question. Does it mean that after those illegal hawkers are arrested, prosecution actions will be taken jointly by USD and AFD? This is my first question.
Secondly, I would like to ask when the increase of fines from $2,000 to $25,000, as mentioned just now, will take effect.
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-As regards the first question on whether or not there are joint prosecutions actions with AFD, the answer is no. We will institute prosecutions according to legislations under our jurisdiction. On the other hand, we will inform the AFD that somebody is trading pets illegally at those locations and the AFD will take out their own enforcement actions.
As regards the proposed increase of fines from $2,000 to $25,000, that is still a proposal at the moment. So, we still don't know the exact date of implementation. Once we know the implementation date, we will inform Ms. CHOW and members.
MR. LEE KWOK-KEUNG (in Cantonese):-I would like to ask a simple question. In Mr. IP's reply, he said that those hawkers are arrested by USD officers for illegal hawking and street obstruction. When we have arrested them and confiscated their goods, through which means can the AFD prosecute the same illegal hawkers? Or does the AFD have to wait for another chance until they appear again? After the USD has arrested the hawkers and confiscated their goods, I would like to know whether we can pass the information to the AFD for them to initiate prosecutions against the hawkers as well?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese): We will only inform AFD of the location of trading. If enforcement officers of AFD inspect those locations and find the hawkers hawking pets there again, AFD will initiate prosecutions against the hawkers. However, we will not join hands with AFD to initiate prosecutions against the same hawker upon the same arrest.
MR. LAI CHI-KEONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I have a follow up question. Just now it was mentioned that prosecution actions were taken in
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they be prosecuted for illegal hawking instead of being required to pay the fine imposed by AFD?
Mr. JP Kwok-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—I can tell Mr. Wu that when USD officers arrest them, we will prosecute them for illegal hawking and street obstruction. Apart from that, their goods will also be confiscated. The actions are taken in accordance with the Municipal Services Ordinance. As regards legislation within the jurisdiction of AFD, they will be enforced by the AFD. USD cannot take prosecution actions under those legislation.
Ms. JENNIFER CHOW KIT-BING (in Cantonese):-I have a follow up question. Does it mean that after those illegal hawkers are arrested, prosecution actions will be taken jointly by USD and AFD? This is my first question.
Secondly. I would like to ask when the increase of fines from $2,000 to $25,000, as mentioned just now, will take effect.
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-As regards the first question on whether or not there are joint prosecutions actions with AFD, the answer is no. We will institute prosecutions according to legislations under our jurisdiction. On the other hand, we will inform the AFD that somebody is trading pets illegally at those locations and the AFD will take out their own enforcement actions.
As regards the proposed increase of fines from $2,000 to $25,000, that is still a proposal at the moment. So, we still don't know the exact date of implementation. Once we know the implementation date, we will inform Ms. CHOW and members.
MR. LEE KWOK-KEUNG (in Cantonese):-I would like to ask a simple question. In Mr. IP's reply, he said that those hawkers are arrested by USD officers for illegal hawking and strect obstruction. When we have arrested them and confiscated their goods, through which means can the AFD prosecute the same illegal hawkers? Or does the AFD have to wait for another chance until they appear again? After the USD has arrested the hawkers and confiscated their goods, I would like to know whether we can pass the information to the AFD for them to initiate prosecutions against the hawkers as well?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese): We will only inform AFD of the location of trading. If enforcement officers of AFD inspect those locations and find the hawkers hawking pets there again, AFD will initiate prosecutions against the hawkers. However, we will not join hands with ASD to initiate prosecutions against the same hawker upon the same arrest.
MR. LAI CHI-KEONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I have a follow up question. Just now it was mentioned that prosecution actions were taken in
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