Page 486 of 498.
I
age 486 of 498
534
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Let me quote a more recent example. The Wong Nai Chung Market was completed in 1996. According to the audit report of August 96, the vacancy rate there was 35%. It makes us wonder why a new market has recorded such a high vacancy rate. Did the Urban Services Department study into it and how did it derive at its planning standard? The Democratic Party feels the Department should face this squarely instead of evading comments by the Department of Audit. The task at hand should be to revise the planning standard for markets and set a more reasonable and practical one based on social need. This way, oversupply of market stalls will be prevented. Feasibility studies for markets should be taken before constructing new market. Consideration should be given to the viability, the shopping mode of the public, competition from neighbours, traffic convenience, resite needs etc. before deciding on the number of stalls to provide. In fact, the above factors affect each other. The key is the viability of markets. If a newly built market is found not viable, tenants will regret moving into it and possibly return to the streets to become unlicensed hawkers again.
On the other hand, there are licensed itinerant hawkers who perpetually refuse to move into markets because they know moving into it does more harm than good. In the long term, I foresee a lot of difficulties in our policy to put market traders in order. I have so spoken and I ask that you support my motion.
Mr. Stanley NG WING-FAI (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
Ms. JENNIFER CHOW KIT-BING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, in July 1984, the Department surveyed 53 UC markets and found 32 of them viable (60%), 11 partially viable (21%) and the remaining 10 not viable (19%). The report by the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee at that time pointed out that the planning and design for markets was influenced by the hawker resite policy and the available land. As a result, certain markets could not enjoy good business, resulting in high vacancy rates. In addition to the design of stalls themselves, other facilities such as passages, signboards, parking space may affect business viability. Statistics of that survey showed that 11.2% of market stalls for lease were used for storage, not business. That usually means that stall operators have gone into the streets and are using their stalls as storage space. One can see the inconvenience and unfavourable business conditions of such stalls.
As far as I know, our existing planning standard for markets was devised in 1987 after a survey on market facilities at that time. Due to rapid social changes, the cases facing our public are becoming more complicated. There are members of the public who expect more from the Council as their living qualities improve. It is time for this Council to conduct a comprehensive review to see if there is need for some revision. The problem of UC markets, as
Page 486 of 498.
Page 486 of 498.
I
age 486 of 498
534
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Let me quote a more recent example. The Wong Nai Chung Market was completed in 1996. According to the audit report of August 96, the vacancy rate there was 35%. It makes us wonder why a new market has recorded such a high vacancy rate. Did the Urban Services Department study into it and how did it derive at its planning standard? The Democratic Party feels the Department should face this squarely instead of evading comments by the Department of Audit. The task at hand should be to revise the planning standard for markets and set a more reasonable and practical one based on social need. This way, oversupply of market stalls will be prevented. Feasibility studies for markets should be taken before constructing new market Consideration should be given to the viability, the shopping mode of the public, competition from neighbours. traffic convenience, resite needs etc. before deciding on the number of stalls to provide. In fact, the above factors affect each other. The key is the viability of markets. If a newly built market is found not viable, tenants will regret moving it and possibly return to the streets to become unlicensed hawkers again.
On the other hand, there are licensed itinerant hawkers who perpetually refuse to move into markets because they know moving into it does more harm than good. In the long term, I foresee a lot of difficulties in our policy to put market traders to order. I have so spoken and I ask that you support my motion.
Mr. Stanley NG WING-FAI (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
Ms. JENNIFER CHOW KIT-BING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, in July 1984. the Department surveyed 53 UC markets and found 32 of them viable (60%). 11 partially viable (21%) and the remaining 10 not viable (19%). The report by the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee at that time pointed out that the planning and design for markets was influenced by the hawker resite policy and the available land. As a result, certain markets could not enjoy good business, resulting in high vacancy rates. In addition to the design of stalls themselves, other facilities such as passages, signboards, parking space may affect business viability. Statistics of that survey showed that 11,2% of market stalls for lease were used for storage, not business. That usually means that stall operators have gone into the streets and are using their stalls as storage space. One can see the inconvenience and unfavourable business conditions of such stalls.
As far as I know, our existing planning standard for markets was devised in 1987 after a survey on market facilities at that time. Due to rapid social changes, the cases facing our public are becoming more complicated. There are members of the public who expect more from the Council as their living qualities improve. It is time for this Council to conduct a comprehensive review to see if there is need for some revision. The problem of UC markets, as
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.