1996 — Page 412

age 412 of 498

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. JOSEPH CHan Yuek-sut (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to know the remaining number of IHL holders at present. It is our policy to reserve 1000-odd market stalls for this category of hawkers. Is this strategy appropriate and is it right? As we keep this ex-gratia payment system, some licence holders will not choose market stalls. How many itinerant hawkers are there at present and how many can be expected to choose stalls? Can we make some adjustment by not reserving so many vacant stalls each year? The more vacant stalls are reserved, the larger the loss. In many markets like the Aberdeen Market in the Southern District, there are quite a lot of vacant stalls although the utilization rate of that market is quite high. Many people would like to bid for stalls there and yet for years, there has been a large number of vacant stalls. It is indeed a loss. Can we improve the situation by making an appropriate adjustment?

Secondly, Mr. Chairman, is there a way designed for the allocation of stalls to IHL holders? For example, when the Housing Authority offers units for eligible people on the waiting list, one can reject the options of the first offer on finding them unsatisfactory. The same applies to the second offer. However, if the third offer is still rejected, one would has automatically forfeited the right to another offer. Do we have a similar arrangement when offering stalls to IHL holders? If we allow them to drag on and they still cannot make up their minds after ten offers, we will have more and more vacant stalls in hand and we will suffer greater loss. Mr. Chairman, do we have some definite policy arrangements in this regard?

Mr. JP Kwok-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Let me respond to the second question first. It is about disqualification after rejecting 3 offers like the arrangement adopted by certain organizations. Up to the present, there is no such arrangement. I mean IHL holders can still choose as many times as they like. Of course, I agree that you have made a good suggestion. I assure you, Mr. CHAN, that the policy on IHL holders will be discussed at the upcoming meetings of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee. Whatever we decide on, whether to maintain or discontinue or change the existing policy, will inevitably influence the handling of vacant market stalls and IHL holders are unlikely to be allowed to choose stalls over and over again. I believe all members of the Select Committee are aware of this point. I thank Mr. CHAN for reminding us here.

Now I move on to whether there will be a change of policy over market stalls. As I have said when responding to the second question, a policy decision lies with the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee. I am glad to have Mr. CHAN pointing out that for the Aberdeen Market has a high usage rate and therefore the stalls there are in greater demand, yet we are unable to open up stalls for bidders because of the existing policy. At the same time, I have to point out that some IHL holders who viewed the stalls there indicated no interest. So it takes us to the question of whether all vacant stalls are "dead stails'. In fact, some vacant stalls are well located. In any case, the existing