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The Government announced today (December 21) that the voluntary surrender scheme for itinerant hawker licences (IHLs) would be extended by one year to December 31, 2008.
The voluntary surrender scheme for IHLs was introduced in 2002 and is valid for five years from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2007.
Under the scheme, an IHL holder who voluntarily surrenders his licence may choose any one of the following options –
* to select a vacant fixed pitch and be regarded as a fixed pitch licensed hawker;
* to select a vacant stall in public markets and enjoy certain concessionary rental arrangements; or
* to receive an ex gratia payment (EGP) of $30,000.
"In view of the requests of several hawker associations to extend the validity of the voluntary surrender scheme and the fact that the Government is conducting a review on hawker licensing policy which may have implications for IHL operations, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has decided to extend the validity of the scheme by one year to December 31, 2008," a spokesman for the department said.
"Any IHL holder who wishes to carry on business after the expiry of the voluntary surrender scheme will continue to be issued with IHL licences. They would have, however, forfeited the opportunity to take up the options as set out above when they eventually surrender their licences."
As at October 31, 2007, a total of 339 IHL holders have voluntarily surrendered their licences under the scheme. Among them, 287 opted for EGP, 37 selected vacant fixed pitches and 15 selected vacant public market stalls. At present, there are about 630 IHL holders remaining.
Ends/Friday, December 21, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:50
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