Press Releases
Government widely consults the public on hawker policy (with photos
Members of the public are encouraged to forward their views and comments on
proposals relating to the management of fixed-pitch hawker areas before the
public consultation ends on May 7, 2012.
The Government issued a public consultation document on the management of
fixed-pitch hawker areas on February 8, proposing various medium and
long-term measures aimed at improving the management of hawker stalls, with
a view to minimising as far as possible the fire risks posed by hawker
stalls to adjacent buildings. ?The consultation exercise lasts for three
months.
The consultation document lists out six proposed measures aimed at
mitigating the fire risks posed by the existing hawker areas. These include:
overnight storage of commodities only inside enclosed metal structure;
dismantling of stalls and removal of all commodities after close of
business; resiting of hawker areas; resiting of hawker stalls in front of
staircase discharge points of buildings; installation of fixed fire
resisting structures to enclose stalls on three sides and the top cum
installation of sprinkler system; and voluntary licence surrender scheme for
fixed pitch hawkers.
A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said, "Since the public
consultation was launched, we have consulted different sectors of the
community through various channels. We have met with Members of the
Legislative Council, hawker associations and other stakeholders, and also
attended meetings of the relevant Legislative Council Panel and District
Councils so that they could express in-depth views regarding hawking-related
issues."
"We hope that the public will participate actively in the consultation
exercise. They may continue to send in their views by post, email or fax
before the closing date. The Government will carefully analyse and consider
the views and comments received before finalising our proposals."
The spokesman reiterated that fixed pitch hawking is part of the local
culture, providing job opportunities and a cheaper source of goods for the
general public. The Government has no intention of banning such hawking
activities.
"As far as the management of hawker stalls is concerned, standing still is
not an option. ?When devising the various improvement proposals, we will
take into account the views of all stakeholders. We will have full regard to
the local circumstances of individual hawker areas when implementing the
improvement measures," the spokesman stressed.
Copies of the consultation document "Management of Fixed Pitch Hawker Areas"
can be downloaded from the websites of the Food and Health Bureau (www.fhb.gov.hk)
and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (www.fehd.gov.hk).
Views and comments can be sent to the Hawkers and Markets Section,
Headquarters Division, Environmental Hygiene Branch, Food and Environmental
Hygiene Department at 45/F, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong
Kong; or e-mail to
hawkermanagement@fehd.gov.hk;
or fax to 2530 1368 by May 7, 2012.
Ends/Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Issued at HKT 22:38
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