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As regards unlicensed hawkers, the unlicensed hawker population fluctuates according to Hong Kong's economy but informal headcounts suggest that over the past five years, the number has dropped by about one-third from 7 200 to under 5 000 at present. Once all 1HLs have been surrendered, this would radically help enforcement staff to exercise more effective control of illegal hawking activities as the illegal hawkers will no longer be able to operate under the protection of non-active licensed itinerant hawkers. As such, the present number of unlicensed hawkers is expected to drop significantly over the next few years.
As regards specific targets for the future, it is expected that the 5-Year Plan under preparation for the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee will point to new policy initiatives on the subject of hawking, both licensed and unlicensed.
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, a question for Mr. IP about his forecast that the number of hawkers will decrease. I have heard that some Chinese from mainland China with 2-way permits engage in hawker business for several months before returning to China, and others overstay here to engage in hawker activities. I wonder if the Council is aware of this problem and has measures to tackle this problem. First, whether the Council is aware of this. Secondly, how are we going to solve the problem?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese): Thank you for your question, Mr. CHAN. Our policy on illegal hawking is applicable to all persons and there is no special measure or policy to solve the problem of 2-way permit holders engaging in illegal hawking. Anyone carrying out hawking activities illegally will be prosecuted and arrested. It has always been our practice to do so.
MR. JOSEPH Chan Yuek-sut (in Cantonese): Prosecution alone cannot solve the problem. I want to know if there is any inter-cooperation with the Immigration Department on information about the number and residential address of 2-way permit holders in Hong Kong, I hear that they are here via the arrangement of syndicate. Are we now co-operating with the Immigration Department and other relevant departments to learn of their whereabouts, their numbers in Hong Kong and the locations at which they engage in unlicensed hawking? If we don't have such statistics at present, I still want to know if we have ever prosecuted 2-way permit holders engaged in unlicensed hawking. Do we have records on this?
MR. IP Kwok-CHUNG (in Cantonese): I don't have such statistics with me right now. However, we do liaise with the Immigration Department concerning illegal hawking activities of not just 2-way permit holders, but also holders of other foreign passports. If any such person conducts hawking activities during his visit here, it is a breach of immigration laws and the case will be handled in accordance with the Immigration Ordinance. Of course, if
Page 203 of 498
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Page 203 of 498
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
199
As regards unlicensed hawkers, the unlicensed hawker population fluctuates according to Hong Kong's economy but informal headcounts suggest that over the past five years, the number has dropped by about one-third from 7 200 to under 5 000 at present. Once all 1HLs have been surrendered, this would radically help enforcement staff to exercise more effective control of illegal hawking activities as the illegal hawkers will no longer be able to operate under the protection of non-active licensed itinerant hawkers. As such, the present number of unlicensed hawkers is expected to drop significantly over the next few years.
As regards specific targets for the future, it is expected that the 5-Year Plan under preparation for the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee will point to new policy initiatives on the subject of hawking, both licensed and unlicensed.
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):~Mr. Chairman, a question for Mr. IP about his forecast that the number of hawkers will decrease. I have heard that some Chinese from mainland China with 2-way permits engage in hawker business for several months before returning to China, and others overstay here to engage in hawker activities. I wonder if the Council is aware of this problem and has measures to tackle this problem. First, whether the Council is aware of this. Secondly, how are we going to solve the problem?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Thank you for your question. Mr. CHAN. Our policy on illegal hawking is applicable to all persons and there is no special measure or policy to solve the problem of 2-way permit holders engaging in illegal hawking. Anyone carrying out hawking activities illegally will be prosecuted and arrested. It has always been our practice to do so.
MR. JOSEPH Chan Yuek-sut (in Cantonese):-Prosecution alone cannot solve the problem. I want to know if there is any inter-cooperation_with_the Immigration Department on information about the number and residential address of 2-way permit holders in Hong Kong, I hear that they are here via the arrangement of syndicate. Are we now co-operating with the Immigration Department and other relevant departments to learn of their whereabouts, their numbers in Hong Kong and the locations at which they engage in unlicensed hawking? If we don't have such statistics at present. I still want to know if we have ever prosecuted 2-way permit holders engaged in unlicensed hawking. Do we have records on this?
MR. IP Kwok-CHUNG (in Cantonese):- -I don`t have such statistics with me right now. However, we do liaise with the Immigration Department concerning illegal hawking activities of not just 2-way permit holders, but also holders of other foreign passports. If any such person conducts hawking activities during his visit here, it is a breach of immigration laws and the case will be handled in accordance with the Immigration Ordinance. Of course, if
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