1996 — Page 483

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

531

MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-I do not quite understand Mr. Lai, What is to be considered simple. I do not know how to interpret it. Whether replies are simple depends on the cases referred to. You cannot say that a question has been answered in a complicated or simple way. I can tell Mr. LAI that we have 777 licenced newspaper hawkers. 285 of them are on Hong Kong Island and 492 in Kowloon. As for expanding their business and going out of their designated space, will Mr. Lai tell us where the situation is more serious so that we can ask the officer in charge there to follow up? If I am asked to give replies on complicated cases about the size and ration etc., I cannot do so right now. I can make an enquiry into individual cases. If you feel that there is no way to get a reply, then let me tell you, there will not be any problem to ask the Assistant Director through me for follow-up action.

As for reviewing the matter of stall expansions, the same thing was discussed at meetings of the last Markets and Street Traders Select Committee. If Mr. LAI thinks that there is need to discuss, we can bring it up again at the Select Committee for consideration. However, the conclusion of the last discussion was that there should not be any expansion. If hawkers are allowed to expand, there will also be the case of someone not expanding. In fact, we now stick to the stall's size in ratio to the pavement. As the pavements are not too wide, expansion will cause more obstruction. On the other hand, most newspaper stalls are set up outside shops. If they are allowed to expand, there will surely be bad influence on the shops. Therefore, the conclusion of the last discussion was that it would not be suitable to expand the operation space for newspaper hawkers.

MR. ALBERT LAI WING-LIN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, our newspaper hawkers feel that if they cannot continue their business because no expansion of space is permitted, they would betray their ancestors who tried hard to obtain the licences. My question is on whether there are rules to require hawkers to clear up their paraphernalia or tables and stools after the business day, and what the Department will do if they do not clean up. Were the hawkers ever prosecuted for allowing items to lie around?

MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Up to now, we do not have a rule to require newspaper hawkers to clean up and clear away their paraphernalia after the business day. I think it depends on the exact location of stalls and whether they cause obstruction or have gone out of their designated space. Only then will the Department take action.

MR. ALBERT LAI WING-LIN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, can we raise this point for discussion at the Select Committee? I mean whether hawkers should be required to clear up their furniture and other items. Allowing them to lie around is bad in outlook.

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 531 MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-I do not quite understand Mr. Lai, What is to be considered simple. I do not know how to interpret it. Whether replies are simple depends on the cases referred to. You cannot say that a question has been answered in a complicated or simple way. I can tell Mr. LAI that we have 777 licenced newspaper hawkers. 285 of them are on Hong Kong Island and 492 in Kowloon. As for expanding their business and going out of their designated space, will Mr. Lai tell us where the situation is more serious so that we can ask the officer in charge there to follow up? If I am asked to give replies on complicated cases about the size and ration etc., I cannot do so right now. I can make an enquiry into individual cases. If you feel that there is no way to get a reply, then let me tell you, there will not be any problem to ask the Assistant Director through me for follow-up action. As for reviewing the matter of stall expansions, the same thing was discussed at meetings of the last Markets and Street Traders Select Committee. If Mr. LAI thinks that there is need to discuss, we can bring it up again at the Select Committee for consideration. However, the conclusion of the last discussion was that there should not be any expansion. If hawkers are allowed to expand, there will also be the case of someone not expanding. In fact, we now stick to the stall's size in ratio to the pavement. As the pavements are not too wide, expansion will cause more obstruction. On the other hand, most newspaper stalls are set up outside shops. If they are allowed to expand, there will surely be bad influence on the shops. Therefore, the conclusion of the last discussion was that it would not be suitable to expand the operation space for newspaper hawkers. MR. ALBERT LAI WING-LIN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, our newspaper hawkers feel that if they cannot continue their business because no expansion of space is permitted, they would betray their ancestors who tried hard to obtain the licences. My question is on whether there are rules to require hawkers to clear up their paraphernalia or tables and stools after the business day, and what the Department will do if they do not clean up. Were the hawkers ever prosecuted for allowing items to lie around? MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Up to now, we do not have a rule to require newspaper hawkers to clean up and clear away their paraphernalia after the business day. I think it depends on the exact location of stalls and whether they cause obstruction or have gone out of their designated space. Only then will the Department take action. MR. ALBERT LAI WING-LIN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, can we raise this point for discussion at the Select Committee? I mean whether hawkers should be required to clear up their furniture and other items. Allowing them to lie around is bad in outlook. Page 483 of 498 Page 483 of 498 Page 483 of 498

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Page 483 of 498 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 531 MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-I do not quite understand Mr. Lai, What is to be considered simple. I do not know how to interpret it. Whether replies are simple depends on the cases referred 10. You cannot say that a question has been answered in a complicated or simple way. I can tell Mr. LAI that we have 777 licenced newspaper hawkers. 285 of them are on Hong Kong Island and 492 in Kowloon. As for expanding their business and going out of their designated space, will Mr. Lai tell us where the situation is more serious so that we can ask the officer in charge there to follow up? If I am asked to give replies on complicated cases about the size and ration etc., I cannot do so right now. I can make an enquiry into individual cases. If you feel that there is no way to get a reply, then let me tell you, there will not be any problem to ask the Assistant Director through me for follow up action. As for reviewing the matter of stall expansions, the same thing was discussed at meetings of the last Markets and Street Traders Select Committee. If Mr. LAI thinks that there is need to discuss, we can bring it up again at the Select Committee for consideration. However, the conclusion of the last discussion was that there should not be any expansion. If hawkers are allowed to expand, there will also be the case of someone not expanding. In fact, we now stick to the stall's size in ratio to the pavement. As the pavements are not too wide, expansion will cause more obstruction. On the other hand, most newspaper stalls are set up outside shops. if they are allowed to expand, there will surely be bad influence to the shops. Therefore, the conclusion of the last discussion was that it would not be suitable to expand the operation space for newspaper hawkers. MR. ALBERT LAI WING-LIN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, our newspaper hawkers feel that if they cannot continue their business because no expansion of space is permitted, they would betray their ancestors who tried hard to obtain the licences. My question is on whether there are rules to require hawkers to clear up their paraphernalia or tables and stools after the business day, and what the Department will do if they do not clean up. Were the hawkers ever prosecuted for allowing items to lie around? MR. IP Kwok-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Up to now, we do not have a rule to require newspaper hawkers clean up and clear away their paraphernalia after the business day. I think it depends on the exact location of stalls and whether they cause obstruction or have gone out of their designated space. Only then will the Department take action. MR. ALBERT Lar Wing-lin (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, can we raise this point for discussion at the Select Committee? I mean whether hawkers should be required to clear up their furniture and other items. Allowing them to lie around is bad in outlook. Page 483 of 498 Page 483 of 498 Page 483 of 498

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Page 483 of 498

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

531

MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-I do not quite understand Mr. Lai, What is to be considered simple. I do not know how to interpret it. Whether replies are simple depends on the cases referred 10. You cannot say that a question has been answered in a complicated or simple way. I can tell Mr. LAI that we have 777 licenced newspaper hawkers. 285 of them are on Hong Kong Island and 492 in Kowloon. As for expanding their business and going out of their designated space, will Mr. Lai tell us where the situation is more serious so that we can ask the officer in charge there to follow up? If I am asked to give replies on complicated cases about the size and ration etc., I cannot do so right now. I can make an enquiry into individual cases. If you feel that there is no way to get a reply, then let me tell you, there will not be any problem to ask the Assistant Director through me for follow up action.

As for reviewing the matter of stall expansions, the same thing was discussed at meetings of the last Markets and Street Traders Select Committee. If Mr. LAI thinks that there is need to discuss, we can bring it up again at the Select Committee for consideration. However, the conclusion of the last discussion was that there should not be any expansion. If hawkers are allowed to expand, there will also be the case of someone not expanding. In fact, we now stick to the stall's size in ratio to the pavement. As the pavements are not too wide, expansion will cause more obstruction. On the other hand, most newspaper stalls are set up outside shops. if they are allowed to expand, there will surely be bad influence to the shops. Therefore, the conclusion of the last discussion was that it would not be suitable to expand the operation space for newspaper hawkers.

MR. IP Kwok-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Up to now, we do not have a rule to require newspaper hawkers clean up and clear away their paraphernalia after the business day. I think it depends on the exact location of stalls and whether they cause obstruction or have gone out of their designated space. Only then will the Department take action.

MR. ALBERT Lar Wing-lin (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, can we raise this point for discussion at the Select Committee? I mean whether hawkers should be required to clear up their furniture and other items. Allowing them to lie around is bad in outlook.

1996 — Page 483

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