Press Releases
FHB's statement on handling of illegal hawking activities by FEHD staff on first day of Lunar New Year
Regarding the handling of illegal hawking activities by the staff of the
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) on the first day of the
Lunar New Year (February 8), a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau
today (February 11) issued the following statement:
"Some political parties and student associations issued statements on the
riot in Mong Kok, accusing that it was caused by the joint raids of FEHD and
the Police against the hawkers, which has led to clashes with the public. We
are of the view that such comments are unfounded and would confuse the
public.
In fact, in his statement on February 9 and media sessions in the evening of
February 9 and the morning of February 10, the Secretary for Food and
Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, explained in details the handling of the illegal
hawking activities by FEHD in Mong Kok on February 8. He pointed out that
hawker control officers of FEHD were conducting general squad patrol. At
that time, they did not issue any warning nor take any enforcement action
against the hawkers selling cooked food illegally, let alone conducting
raids. However, they were already surrounded, scolded and pushed around by
over 50 persons, causing injury to a squad member. During that time, two
carts carrying cooked food were also being pushed towards squad members. In
view of the above clashes and violent acts, and the concerned cooked food
stalls involving boiling oil and using flame cooking, as well as in the
interest of the safety of the members of the squad and the large number of
people at the scene, FEHD called for police assistance at about 9.40pm.
We also note that there were media reports on February 10 quoting hawkers at
the site of Mong Kok as saying that they were not being dispersed by FEHD
when the above clashes occurred.
The claims by some people that the riot was caused by hawker management are
unfair and untrue. We therefore consider it necessary to make clarifications
and set the record straight."
Ends/Thursday, February 11, 2016
Issued at HKT 22:40
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