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The licence, which requires personal operation and is not transferrable, should at all times be made available for inspection by staff of the Department. Hawker Control Team staff carried out regular inspections at the fair sites during the fair period to ensure that the licensing conditions had been observed by the LNY Fair stall operators all the time.
The last part of the question concerns the alleged improper trading practice by the stall operator at the Victoria Park Fair venue. According to the Department, they did not receive any complaint against stall operators trading by improper practice during the fair period. Nevertheless, I understand that any alleged improper trading practice may amount to an act of fraud constituting a criminal offence. In such circumstances, it is the Police who should conduct appropriate investigations. The Department acting on complaint will refer any such case to the Police for follow-up action.
MR. DANIEL To Boon-Man (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have several follow-up questions. The first part concerns the obvious increase in manpower, resources and time input of the Department this year and the apparent increase of 32% being 272 tonnes of garbage collected. Is that a reflection of ineffective publicity on environmental protection? There goes my first question. What follow-up measures have we planned for the next year to reduce unnecessary disposal of garbage?
The second part asks the Chairman of the Select Committee about scalping activities on the Internet before the LNY Fairs. The reply document has not touched on this, but my question is clear and unambiguous. Has the Department turned a blind eye to scalping activities? Does the Chairman of the Select Committee feel preventive measures are adequate?
The last part of my question concerns improper trading practices at LNY Fairs. The situation was reported in a certain newspaper on 15 February in which it was disclosed that customers went to a specified address to collect goods they already paid for at a certain stall at the LNY Fair and found the address did not exist. That was when the customers knew they had been cheated. I would like to know if the trading format of 'money for goods' at LNY Fairs can adequately protect consumers?
I would like to continue and ask if current tendering guidelines can be amended to prevent improper trading practices so that members of the public can get what they purchased without being cheated.
The above are clear facts. Can we follow up on the basis of such information?
MR. IP Kwok-Chung (in Cantonese):--I thank Mr. To for his five follow-up questions. In your first question, you mentioned about manpower resources. In paragraph 2 of the reply document, it was clearly stated that in 1999, we put 486 people on the job which amounted to just 3 persons more than the number of 483 persons in 1998. Thus, large increase of manpower is not a fact. We can
Page 558 of 606
Page 558 of 606
Page 558 of 606
Page 558 of 606
478
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
The licence, which requires personal operation and is not transferrable, should at all times be made available for inspection by staff of the Department. Hawker Control Team staff carried out regular inspections at the fair sites during the fair period to ensure that the licensing conditions had been observed by the LNY Fair stall operators all the time.
The last part of the question concerns the alleged improper trading practice by the stall operator at the Victoria Park Fair venue. According to the Department, they did not receive any complaint against stall operators trading by improper practice during the fair period. Nevertheless, I understand that any alleged improper trading practice may amount to an act of fraud constituting a criminal offence. In such circumstances, it is the Police who should conduct appropriate investigations. The Department acting on complaint will refer any such case to the Police for follow-up action.
MR. DANIEL To Boon-Man (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have several follow-up questions. The first part concerns the obvious increase in manpower,
resources and time input of the Department this year and the apparent increase of 32% being 272 tonnes of garbage collected. Is that a reflection of ineffective publicity on environmental protection? There goes my first question. What follow-up measures have we planned for the next year to reduce unnecessary
disposal of garbage?
The second part asks the Chairman of the Select Committee about scalping activities on the Internet before the LNY Fairs. The reply document has not touched on this, but my question is clear and unambiguous. Has the Department turned a blind eye to scalping activities? Does the Chairman of the Select Committee feel preventive measures are adequate?
The last part of my question concerns improper trading practices at LNY Fairs. The situation was reported in a certain newspaper on 15 February in which it was disclosed that customers went to a specified address to collect goods they already paid for at a certain stall at the LNY Fair and found the address did not exist. That was when the customers knew they had been cheated. I would like to know if the trading format of 'money for goods' at LNY Fairs can adequately protect consumers?
I would like to continue and ask if current tendering guidelines can be amended to prevent improper trading practices so that members of the public can get what they purchased without being cheated.
The above are clear facts. Can we follow up on the basis of such information?
MR. IP Kwok-Chung (in Cantonese):--I thank Mr. To for his five follow-up questions. In your first question, you mentioned about manpower resources. In paragraph 2 of the reply document, it was clearly stated that in 1999, we put 486 people on the job which amounted to just 3 persons more than the number of 483 persons in 1998. Thus, large increase of manpower is not a fact. We can
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