HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
447
The second part of the question concerns the planning of the raiding operations and the measures taken to prevent leakage of information.
The planning of operational programmes is undertaken by a Senior Health Inspector who is assisted by a Principal Hawker Control Officer of the Department. The targets of the planned operations are assigned to the shift commander, i.e. the Chief Hawker Control Officer (CHCO), directly. To ensure confidentiality, the CHCO will only reveal the targets during the briefing with the squad members shortly before they leave for the operation. The Department is well aware of the importance of keeping the details of hawker control operations in strict confidentiality. In essence, all staff engaged in the raiding operations have to strictly observe a departmental operational circular on 'Measures to Prevent Leakage of Information on Hawker Control Operations' issued in December 1995.
The third part of the question enquires whether the Department had taken any follow-up actions on this matter (for instance, any internal investigation by the Department or investigation by other department) and if yes, what were the results of these investigation.
Investigation into the unsuccessful raiding operations by the Department revealed that there was no indication of leakage of information by departmental staff. The fact that there is only one access road leading to Ka Yip Street could be the reason for early warning of the hawkers because the approach of the raiding squad and its vehicles can be easily spotted by the hawkers who had time to flee away before arrival of the enforcement staff. It is important to note that the fact that an operation led to no arrest does not necessarily mean that an operation has been unsuccessful. Particularly with hawkers trading in a very mobile manner, they are often best dealt with by using dispersal techniques rather than arresting one or two who would probably only receive a fine of a few hundred dollars or so upon conviction. The Department is thus monitoring current levels of fine for hawking offences to see if these reflect the recent increases in maximum fines approved by ExCo in respect of legislation across-the-board.
MR. LEE Kwok-Keung (in Cantonese):—I want to know if the raiding figures cover those of the special duties squad. My second question is on who is in charge of internal investigations and what is the machinery. In a case that involves a Senior Health Inspector or a Principal Hawker Control Officer, what is the investigation machinery? The third question is whether cases have been referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption for investigations.
MR. IP Kwok-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—The first question concerns whether raids by the Regional Task Force have been included in the statistics. Let me repeat once more. Within the last six months, there were 25 and 33 raids in Ka Yip Street conducted by district and regional task forces respectively, and the number of unlicensed hawkers arrested were 41 and 50 respectively. In other
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Page 403 of 498
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
447
The second part of the question concerns the planning of the raiding operations and the measures taken to prevent leakage of information.
The planning of operational programmes is undertaken by a Senior Health Inspector who is assisted by a Principal Hawker Control Officer of the Department. The targets of the planned operations are assigned to the shift commander, i.e. the Chief Hawker Control Officer (CHCO), directly. To ensure confidentiality, the CHCO will only reveal the targets during the briefing with the squad members shortly before they leave for the operation. The Department is well aware of the importance of keeping the details of hawker control operations in strict confidentiality. In essence, all staff engaged in the raiding operations have to strictly observe a departmental operational circular on 'Measures to Prevent Leakage of Information on Hawker Control Operations' issued in December 1995.
The third part of the question enquires whether the Department had taken any follow-up actions on this matter (for instance, any internal investigation by the Department or investigation by other department) and if yes, what were the results of these investigation.
Investigation into the unsuccessful raiding operations by the Department revealed that there was no indication of leakage of information by departmental staff. The fact that there is only one access road leading to Ka Yip Street could be the reason for early warning of the hawkers because the approach of the raiding squad and its vehicles can be easily spotted by the hawkers who had time to flee away before arrival of the enforcement staff. It is important to note that the fact that an operation led to no arrest does not necessarily mean that an operation has been unsuccessful. Particularly with hawkers trading in a very mobile manner, they are often best dealt with by using dispersal techniques rather than arresting one or two who would probably only receive a fine of a few hundred dollars or so upon conviction. The Department is thus monitoring current levels of fine for hawking offences to see if these reflect the recent increases in maximum fines approved by ExCo in respect of legislation across-the-board.
MR. LEE Kwok-Keung (in Cantonese):-/ want to know if the raiding figures cover those of the special duties squad. My second question is on who is in charge of internal investigations and what is the machinery. In a case that involves a Senior Health Inspector or a Principal Hawker Control Officer, what is the investigation machinery? The third question is whether cases have been referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption for investigations.
MR. IP Kwok-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—The first question concerns whether raids by the Regional Task Force have been included in the statistics. Let me repeal once more. Within the last six months, there were 25 and 33 raids in Ka Yip Street conducted by district and regional task forces respectively, and the number of unlicensed hawkers arrested were 41 and 50 respectively. In other
Page 403 of 498
Page 403 of 498
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