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number of eligible resitees usually exceeds the number of stalls available. It is not Council's policy to build markets to meet full resite commitment but rather to build market to a scale which meets district needs and would be viable.
The second part of the question enquires the situation in which Council's one-family-one-license principle applies in respect of resiting and "succession" matters; and how the Department resolves cases in which several members of the family who are eligible to succeed to the hawker license or market stall tenancy fail to compromise as to who should have the license or stall in question. The one-family-one-license principle applies only in rare situations. Should there be disputes among several immediate family members over the issue of a new hawker license or entering into a new market stall tenancy, the Department would take a neutral stance and leave the matter to be resolved among themselves. Neither the Department nor the Council will be involved in any family disputes.
The third part of the question enquires whether the Department would consider to revise the existing relevant policy so as to avoid any possible violation of the Equal Opportunities (Family Responsibility, Sexuality and Age) Bill (the Bill). At present, Council's general policy is not to issue new licenses except in very rare and special circumstances, for example, in response to the judgment of the Urban Services Appeals Board in respect of a hawker appeal case. Hence there will be few if any practical problems if the Bill becomes law and its impact on hawker licensing policy will be very insignificant in normal circumstances. However, the Department will not review the existing policy on the assumption that this Bill will be enacted in due course, and make recommendations to the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee once the review is completed.
Mr. Stanley Ng WING-FAI (in Cantonese):—I have a follow-up question after reading the reply by the Chairman of the Select Committee. When the Land Development Corporation or other government departments approach the Urban Council for assistance over the resite of hawkers, do we have a clear policy not to recommend the adoption of the one-family-one-license policy?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-I believe in so far as the Urban Council is concerned, we are prepared to take part in coordination work on the issue of resiting needs of the LDC, but that the concrete work should be the LDC's decision. When LDC consults the Council, we recommend in accordance with our existing policy ways to deal with the matter. Whether or not the recommendation is followed remains with the LDC.
(6) MR. LEE KWOK-KEUNG asked the following question:—
Recently, the press reported that there were many illegal graves on the hill behind the Diamond Hill Public Cemetery, and some people even openly
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number of eligible resitees usually exceeds the number of stalls available. It is not Council's policy to build markets to meet full resite commitment but rather to build market to a scale which meets district needs and would be viable.
The second part of the question enquires the situation in which Council's one-family-one-license principle applies in respect of resiting and "succession" matters; and how the Department resolves cases in which several members of the family who are eligible to succeed to the hawker license or market stall tenancy fail to compromise as to who should have the license or stall in question. The one-family-one-license principle applies only in rare situations. Should there be disputes among several immediate family members over the issue of a new hawker license or entering into a new market stall tenancy, the Department would take a neutral stance and leave the matter to be resolved among themselves. Neither the Department nor the Council will be involved in any family disputes.
The third part of the question enquires whether the Department would consider to revise the existing relevant policy so as to avoid any possible violation of the Equal Opportunities (Family Responsibility, Sexuality and Age) Bill (the Bill). At present, Council's general policy is not to issue new licenses except in very rare and special circumstances, for example, in response to the judgment of the Urban Services Appeals Board in respect of a hawker appeal case. Hence there will be few if any practical problems if the Bill becomes law and its impact on hawker licensing policy will be very insignificant in normal circumstances. However, the Department will not review the existing policy on the assumption that this Bill will be enacted in due course, and make recommendations to the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee once the review is completed.
Mr. Stanley Ng WING-FAI (in Cantonese):—I have a follow-up question after reading the reply by the Chairman of the Select Committee. When the Land Development Corporation or other government departments approach the Urban Council for assistance over the resite of hawkers, do we have a clear policy not to recommend the adoption of the one-family-one-license policy?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-I believe in so far as the Urban Council is concerned, we are prepared to take part in coordination work on the issue of resiting needs of the LDC, but that the concrete work should be the LDC's decision. When LDC consults the Council, we recommend in accordance with our existing policy ways to deal with the matter. Whether or not the recommendation is followed remains with the LDC.
(6) MR. LEE KWOK-KEUNG asked the following question:—
Recently, the press reported that there were many illegal graves on the hill behind the Diamond Hill Public Cemetery, and some people even openly
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