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In response to media enquiries about the refusal of some organisations' applications for Temporary Hawker Licences (THLs) for fund-raising purpose, a Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) spokesman said today (June 26) that under the current mechanism, individual organisations wishing to raise fund by selling goods in public places should apply for THLs from the FEHD. Upon receipt of applications, the FEHD will consult relevant departments. A THL will be issued provided that no objections from the departments concerned are received. The relevant Government departments have all along adopted the same criteria in handling all applications.
The FEHD received 46 THL applications for holding fund-raising activities by selling goods along the procession route on Hong Kong Island on July 1 this year and consulted relevant departments in accordance with the established procedures. The Department has so far issued 21 THLs and turned down 13 applications. Nine applications are still being processed and no further action is required for three applications because of insufficient information or withdrawal of applications.
Among the nine refused applications, a relevant department held that the locations under application are located at the narrow road sections along the procession route. Based on past experience, a large number of participants will gather at these places awaiting to join the procession. In view of this, setting up temporary stalls at the locations concerned will cause serious obstruction to procession participants as well as other road users. Therefore, the locations concerned under application are not desirable.
The FEHD has already informed the parties of the nine applicants whose applications were turned down to move their booths to, as suggested by the relevant department, either the intersection of Lee Garden Road or the pavement on the west of its junction with Hennessey Road to ensure the smooth movement of the procession route and avoid causing unreasonable obstruction or dangers to other road users.
Some applicants have already resubmitted their applications for THLs in accordance with the locations suggested by the relevant department. The FEHD is consulting relevant departments and will issue the THLs should there be no further objections.
Ends/Friday, June 26, 2015
Issued at HKT 22:21
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