1997 — Page 170

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 170 of 654

HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

171

Committee to show how the particulars of complainants are handled and kept confidential.

MR. IP Kwok-chung (in Cantonese):-Thank you for your question, Mr. Cheung. If Mr. CHEUNG finds it necessary and wants to know the concrete procedures in handling complaint cases by the Department, I think we can discuss at the Select Committee and ask the Department to explain them.

MR. KAM NAI-WAI (in Cantonese):-I want to ask the Chairman of the Select Committee about standing instructions. What about the hearsay that those prosecuted (illegal hawkers, licensed hawkers or street traders) would be told by frontline staff of the Department that they did not want to carry out prosecution without pressure from above and complaints from Urban Councillors?

I want to know if there are clear instructions to frontline staff not to make similar statements when the Select Committee gets down to understanding cases. From what I understand, there is a recent case of Councillors threatened by triad elements in Kwun Tong area over action against illegal hawking. I am not clear about our working relationship with the Department and whether there are clear instructions. Maybe no names have been disclosed to the complainants, but can we give clear instructions to frontline staff to refrain from saying 'we have no intention to prosecute you owing to pressure from above and complaints from Councillors?'

MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. KAM mentioned two points, namely pressure from superiors and complaints by Members. Is it appropriate to say so? From what I understand, management of hawkers is the rightful obligation and responsibility of hawker control personnel. I feel that mentioning the demands of their superiors and complaints by Members when handling individual cases should not pose any great problem because no names have been mentioned. The Urban Council is a body formed by Councillors. If the Urban Council asks staff to do better in their job, it reflects a commitment of each Member. We want our markets to be cleaner and we want hawker Control work to be more effective. There is no problem with these demands.

Of course, if Members feel that Department staff should not even mention such things, we can discuss further at the Select Committee. We can ask that staff just work as they should. If Mr. Kam insists on further discussions on whether staff should mention such things, I agree that we can do so at the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee.

Mr. Lai Hok-LIM (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ip mentioned that only one complaint had been received. However, when I went around in my constituency, the Southern District, a District Board Member told me that a Hawker control staff disclosed his name to a hawker of a certain market as the complainant so that when he passed by, the hawker threw himself out to stop him.

Page 170 of 654

Page 170Page 171

Edit History

2026-05-16 03:06:35 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct

Live

View comparison

AI Proofread

Page 170 of 654 Page 170 of 654 HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL 171 Committee to show how the particulars of complainants are handled and kept confidential. MR. IP Kwok-chung (in Cantonese):-Thank you for your question, Mr. Cheung. If Mr. CHEUNG finds it necessary and wants to know the concrete procedures in handling complaint cases by the Department, I think we can discuss at the Select Committee and ask the Department to explain them. MR. KAM NAI-WAI (in Cantonese):-I want to ask the Chairman of the Select Committee about standing instructions. What about the hearsay that those prosecuted (illegal hawkers, licensed hawkers or street traders) would be told by frontline staff of the Department that they did not want to carry out prosecution without pressure from above and complaints from Urban Councillors? I want to know if there are clear instructions to frontline staff not to make similar statements when the Select Committee gets down to understanding cases. From what I understand, there is a recent case of Councillors threatened by triad elements in Kwun Tong area over action against illegal hawking. I am not clear about our working relationship with the Department and whether there are clear instructions. Maybe no names have been disclosed to the complainants, but can we give clear instructions to frontline staff to refrain from saying 'we have no intention to prosecute you owing to pressure from above and complaints from Councillors?' MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. KAM mentioned two points, namely pressure from superiors and complaints by Members. Is it appropriate to say so? From what I understand, management of hawkers is the rightful obligation and responsibility of hawker control personnel. I feel that mentioning the demands of their superiors and complaints by Members when handling individual cases should not pose any great problem because no names have been mentioned. The Urban Council is a body formed by Councillors. If the Urban Council asks staff to do better in their job, it reflects a commitment of each Member. We want our markets to be cleaner and we want hawker Control work to be more effective. There is no problem with these demands. Of course, if Members feel that Department staff should not even mention such things, we can discuss further at the Select Committee. We can ask that staff just work as they should. If Mr. Kam insists on further discussions on whether staff should mention such things, I agree that we can do so at the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee. Mr. Lai Hok-LIM (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ip mentioned that only one complaint had been received. However, when I went around in my constituency, the Southern District, a District Board Member told me that a Hawker control staff disclosed his name to a hawker of a certain market as the complainant so that when he passed by, the hawker threw himself out to stop him. Page 170 of 654 Page 170 of 654 Page 170Page 171

Baseline (Original)

Page 170 of 654 Page 170 of 654 HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL 171 Committee to show how the particulars of complainants are handled and kept cconfidential. MR. IP Kwok-chung (in Cantonese):-Thank you for your question, Mr. Cheung. If Mr. CHEUNG finds it necessary and wants to know the concrete procedures in handling complaint cases by the Department, I think we can discuss at the Select Committee and ask the Department to explain them. MR. KAM NAI-WAI ( in Cantonesc):-I want to ask the Chairman of the Select Committee about standing instructions. What about the hearsay that those prosecuted (illegal hawkers, licensed hawkers or street traders) would be told by frontline staff of the Department that they did not want carry out prosecution without pressure from above and complaints from Urban Councillors? I want to know if there are clear instructions to frontline staff not to make ssimilar statements when the Select Committee gets down to understanding cases. #From what I understand, there is a recent case of Councillors threatened by triad elements in Kwun Tong area over action against illegal hawking. I am not clear about our working relationship with the Department and whether there are clear instructions. Maybe no names have been disclosed to the complainants, but can vwe give clear instructions to frontline staff to refrain them from saying 'we have vo prosecute you owing to pressure from above and complaints from Councillors?' MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. KAM mentioned two points, riamely pressure from superiors and complaints by Members. Is it appropriate to say so? From what I understand, management of hawkers is the rightful obligation and responsibility of hawker control personnel. I feel that rmentioning the demands of their superiors and complaints by Members when handling individual cases should not pose any great problem because no names Ihave been mentioned. The Urban Council is a body formed by Councillors. If the Urban Council asks staff to do better in their job, it reflects a commitment of each Member. We want our markets to be cleaner and we want hawker Control work to be more effective. There is no problem with these demands. Of course, if Members feel that Department staff should not even mention such things, we can discuss further at the Select Committee. We can ask that staff just work as they should. If Mr. Kam insists on further discussions on whether staff should mention such things, I agree that we can do so at the Markets and Street Traders Select Committec. Mr. Lai Hok-LIM (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ir mentioned that only one complaint had been received. However, when I went around in my constituency, the Southern District, a District Board Member told me that a Thawker control staff disclosed his name to a hawker of a certain market as the zomplainant so that when he passed by, the hawker threw himself out to stop him. Page 170 of 654 Page 170 of 654 Page 170Page 171

2026-05-16 03:06:35 · Baseline

View content

Page 170 of 654

HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

171

Committee to show how the particulars of complainants are handled and kept cconfidential.

MR. KAM NAI-WAI ( in Cantonesc):-I want to ask the Chairman of the Select Committee about standing instructions. What about the hearsay that those prosecuted (illegal hawkers, licensed hawkers or street traders) would be told by frontline staff of the Department that they did not want carry out prosecution without pressure from above and complaints from Urban Councillors?

I want to know if there are clear instructions to frontline staff not to make ssimilar statements when the Select Committee gets down to understanding cases. #From what I understand, there is a recent case of Councillors threatened by triad elements in Kwun Tong area over action against illegal hawking. I am not clear about our working relationship with the Department and whether there are clear instructions. Maybe no names have been disclosed to the complainants, but can vwe give clear instructions to frontline staff to refrain them from saying 'we have vo prosecute you owing to pressure from above and complaints from Councillors?'

MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. KAM mentioned two points, riamely pressure from superiors and complaints by Members. Is it appropriate to say so? From what I understand, management of hawkers is the rightful obligation and responsibility of hawker control personnel. I feel that rmentioning the demands of their superiors and complaints by Members when handling individual cases should not pose any great problem because no names Ihave been mentioned. The Urban Council is a body formed by Councillors. If the Urban Council asks staff to do better in their job, it reflects a commitment of each Member. We want our markets to be cleaner and we want hawker Control work to be more effective. There is no problem with these demands.

Mr. Lai Hok-LIM (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ir mentioned that only one complaint had been received. However, when I went around in my constituency, the Southern District, a District Board Member told me that a Thawker control staff disclosed his name to a hawker of a certain market as the zomplainant so that when he passed by, the hawker threw himself out to stop him.

1997 — Page 170

Edit History

Comments

Private Research Note