1998 — Page 380

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 380 of 606

368

PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

on hygiene. Why does the Government not make better use of UC's expertise on formulation of hawker policy and hawker management so as to do some practical work through creating more employment opportunities to solve the pressing problem of unemployment?

To ease unemployment, I suggest that a committee comprising members from the UC, the Education and Manpower Bureau and the Labour Department be set up along the lines of and in the same spirit as the inter-departmental 'Healthy Living Steering Committee' formed by the Government. I also think that the expertise of UC in hawker management can be better utilized to create job opportunities for the community by setting up "Temporary Hawking Areas" of a transitional nature.

The severe economic slump in 1998 would probably sustain in 1999. As such, this year the Government must try its best to solve the problem. At present, there are several ways for an unemployed person to face his life after unemployment: first, to receive vocational training; second, to apply for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA); third, to become an unlicensed hawker or to wait at home for a job. But looking back at last year's condition, we can find that the number of people applying for CSSA or becoming hawkers has increased. In fact, Hong Kong people are very hardworking. Before more jobs are provided by the Government, for those unemployed who want to earn their own living, hawking is, after all, an expedient to temporarily tide over their hardship.

I believe the unemployment rate this year will be higher than the current rate of 5.5%. It can be predicted that more members of the public will venture on becoming an unlicensed hawker or venture his meager savings on the flea market in order to take a chance. However, Kai Tak Flea Market has proved that this approach will only make the unemployed who have little capital to operate lose money or suffer great loss, for the costs of operation and management are extremely high. I, therefore, propose that the Government should consider drawing up a flexible and transitional hawker policy, so as to ease the pressure of the unemployed. One possible way is to set up temporary hawking areas.

During times of economic downturn in Hong Kong, the unemployed usually turned to hawking. For example, the Government tackled the unemployment problem during the recession in 1976 by setting up Hawker Permitted Areas. Moreover, unlicensed hawkers emerged in large numbers during the recessions in 1982, 1988 and 1995. The Government had to deploy considerable resources and implement policies to control the omnipresent hawkers. During recessions, the unemployed would feel that 'they would rather be fleeing hawkers than starve to death' and so the number of hawkers will inevitably increase. At present, faced with the most severe economic recession in some two decades, will the Government still resort to the Hawker Control Force then used to wipe out unlicensed hawkers, or will it work out a 'triple-win' alternative which

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Page 380 of 606 Page 380 of 606 368 PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL on hygiene. Why does the Government not make better use of UC's expertise on formulation of hawker policy and hawker management so as to do some practical work through creating more employment opportunities to solve the pressing problem of unemployment? To ease unemployment, I suggest that a committee comprising members from the UC, the Education and Manpower Bureau and the Labour Department be set up along the lines of and in the same spirit as the inter-departmental 'Healthy Living Steering Committee' formed by the Government. I also think that the expertise of UC in hawker management can be better utilized to create job opportunities for the community by setting up "Temporary Hawking Areas" of a transitional nature. The severe economic slump in 1998 would probably sustain in 1999. As such, this year the Government must try its best to solve the problem. At present, there are several ways for an unemployed person to face his life after unemployment: first, to receive vocational training; second, to apply for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA); third, to become an unlicensed hawker or to wait at home for a job. But looking back at last year's condition, we can find that the number of people applying for CSSA or becoming hawkers has increased. In fact, Hong Kong people are very hardworking. Before more jobs are provided by the Government, for those unemployed who want to earn their own living, hawking is, after all, an expedient to temporarily tide over their hardship. I believe the unemployment rate this year will be higher than the current rate of 5.5%. It can be predicted that more members of the public will venture on becoming an unlicensed hawker or venture his meager savings on the flea market in order to take a chance. However, Kai Tak Flea Market has proved that this approach will only make the unemployed who have little capital to operate lose money or suffer great loss, for the costs of operation and management are extremely high. I, therefore, propose that the Government should consider drawing up a flexible and transitional hawker policy, so as to ease the pressure of the unemployed. One possible way is to set up temporary hawking areas. During times of economic downturn in Hong Kong, the unemployed usually turned to hawking. For example, the Government tackled the unemployment problem during the recession in 1976 by setting up Hawker Permitted Areas. Moreover, unlicensed hawkers emerged in large numbers during the recessions in 1982, 1988 and 1995. The Government had to deploy considerable resources and implement policies to control the omnipresent hawkers. During recessions, the unemployed would feel that 'they would rather be fleeing hawkers than starve to death' and so the number of hawkers will inevitably increase. At present, faced with the most severe economic recession in some two decades, will the Government still resort to the Hawker Control Force then used to wipe out unlicensed hawkers, or will it work out a 'triple-win' alternative which Page 380 Page 381 Page 381 of 606

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Page 380 of 606 Page 380 of 606 368 PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL on hygiene. Why does the Government not make better use of UC's expertise) on formulation of hawker policy and hawker management so as to do some practical work through creating more employment opportunities to solve the pressing problem of unemployment? To ease unemployment. I suggest that a committee comprising members' from the UC. the Education and Manpower Bureau and the Labour Department be set up along the lines of and in the same spirit as the inter departmental 'Healthy Living Steering Committee' formed by the Government. I also think that the expertise of UC in hawker management can be better utilized to create job opportunities for the community by setting up "Temporary Hawking Areas" of a transitional nature. The severe economic slump in 1998 would probably sustain in 1999. As, such, this year the Government must try its best to solve the problem. At present, there are several ways for an unemployed person to face his life after unemployment : first, to receive vocational training; second, to apply for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA); third, to become an unlicensed hawker or to wait at home for a job. But looking back at last year's condition, we can find that the number of people applying for CSSA or becoming hawkers has increased. In fact, Hong Kong people are very: hardworking. Before more jobs are provided by the Government, for those unemployed who want to earn their own living, hawking is, after all, an expedient to temporarily tide over their hardship. I believe the unemployment rate this year will be higher than the current rate of 5.5%. It can be predicted that more members of the public will venture on becoming an unlicensed hawker or venture his meager savings on the flea market in order to take a chance. However, Kai Tak Flea Market has proved that this approach will only make the unemployed who have little capital to operate lose money or suffer great loss, for the costs of operation and management are extremely high, I, therefore, propose that the Government should consider drawing up a flexible and transitional hawker policy, so as to ease the pressure of the unemployed. One possible way is to set up temporary hawking areas. During times of economic downturn in Hong Kong, the unemployed usually turned to hawking. For example, the Government tackled the unemployment problem during the recession in 1976 by setting up Hawker Permitted Areas. Moreover, unlicensed hawkers emerged in large numbers during the recessions in 1982, 1988 and 1995. The Government had to deploy considerable resources and implemen! policies to control the omnipresent hawkers. During recessions, the unemployed would feel that 'they would rather be fleeing hawkers than starve to death' and so the number of hawkers will inevitably increase. Al present, faced with the most severe economic recession in some two decades, will the Government still resort to the Hawker Control Force then used to wipe out unlicensed hawkers, or will it work out a 'triple-win' alternative which Page 380Page 381 Page 581 01 006

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Page 380 of 606

368

PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

on hygiene. Why does the Government not make better use of UC's expertise) on formulation of hawker policy and hawker management so as to do some practical work through creating more employment opportunities to solve the pressing problem of unemployment?

To ease unemployment. I suggest that a committee comprising members' from the UC. the Education and Manpower Bureau and the Labour Department be set up along the lines of and in the same spirit as the inter departmental 'Healthy Living Steering Committee' formed by the Government. I also think that the expertise of UC in hawker management can be better utilized to create job opportunities for the community by setting up "Temporary Hawking Areas" of a transitional nature.

The severe economic slump in 1998 would probably sustain in 1999. As, such, this year the Government must try its best to solve the problem. At present, there are several ways for an unemployed person to face his life after unemployment : first, to receive vocational training; second, to apply for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA); third, to become an unlicensed hawker or to wait at home for a job. But looking back at last year's condition, we can find that the number of people applying for CSSA or becoming hawkers has increased. In fact, Hong Kong people are very: hardworking. Before more jobs are provided by the Government, for those unemployed who want to earn their own living, hawking is, after all, an expedient to temporarily tide over their hardship.

I believe the unemployment rate this year will be higher than the current rate of 5.5%. It can be predicted that more members of the public will venture on becoming an unlicensed hawker or venture his meager savings on the flea market in order to take a chance. However, Kai Tak Flea Market has proved that this approach will only make the unemployed who have little capital to operate lose money or suffer great loss, for the costs of operation and management are extremely high, I, therefore, propose that the Government should consider drawing up a flexible and transitional hawker policy, so as to ease the pressure of the unemployed. One possible way is to set up temporary hawking areas.

During times of economic downturn in Hong Kong, the unemployed usually turned to hawking. For example, the Government tackled the unemployment problem during the recession in 1976 by setting up Hawker Permitted Areas. Moreover, unlicensed hawkers emerged in large numbers during the recessions in 1982, 1988 and 1995. The Government had to deploy considerable resources and implemen! policies to control the omnipresent hawkers. During recessions, the unemployed would feel that 'they would rather be fleeing hawkers than starve to death' and so the number of hawkers will inevitably increase. Al present, faced with the most severe economic recession in some two decades, will the Government still resort to the Hawker Control Force then used to wipe out unlicensed hawkers, or will it work out a 'triple-win' alternative which

Page 380Page 381

Page 581 01 006

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