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The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man today (February 9) condemned violent acts in Mong Kok.
There were hawkers selling cooked food in the section of Portland Street between Shantung Street and Nelson Street in Mong Kok last night (February 8). Hawker control officers of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) were conducting squad patrol without taking any enforcement action. However, the squad was surrounded, scolded and pushed around by over 50 persons, causing injury to a squad member. During that time, two carts carrying cooked food as well as boiling oil and using flame cooking were also being pushed towards squad members. 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 last night.
FEHD has all along been tolerant of handling illegal hawking activities. Should illegal hawking involving selling dry goods be found obstructing pedestrian passageways, verbal warning will be given and dispersal action will be taken in normal circumstances. But in view of food safety and environmental hygiene, if illegal hawking of cooked food or restricted food is found, FEHD staff will take enforcement action depending on the situation at the scene.
Dr Ko said the Government noted that there had been calls for the establishment of open-air bazaars and night markets in recent years.
"From a policy perspective, the Government is committed to formulating a hawker policy which can strike a fine balance. We have reviewed the hawker policy. Since itinerant hawkers usually gather at prime locations when in operation and their carts with goods inevitably obstruct pedestrian flow, and adversely affect environmental hygiene, the conclusion of the review is that the Government will no longer issue new itinerant hawker licences," he said.
"As regards setting up open-air hawker bazaars and night markets, we keep an open mind and believe that for the successful operation of such bazaars, the proposals should be district-led so that they can balance different views of the local community. We have to consider the operation of hawking business on the one hand, and address public concerns over environmental hygiene, food safety and obstruction to public passageways on the other. There are mechanism and channels in place to handle the matters. If suitable sites are identified and support from the relevant District Councils are obtained, provided that food safety and environmental hygiene are not compromised, we stand ready to facilitate liaison with relevant government departments," he added.
For setting up open-air hawker bazaars during Chinese New Year, among 18 districts, only one organisation in Sham Shui Po district had submitted proposal to organise a Chinese New Year festive event in 2016 at Maple Street Playground in Sham Shui Po. Sham Shui Po District Office, FEHD, Police, Fire Services Department, Leisure and Cultural Services Department had later discussed the proposal in details.
Dr Ko pointed out that those who sincerely cared about hawkers should adopt a pragmatic attitude and work with the Government and District Councils to strive for a best balanced way of moving forward, rather than taking radical means to achieve their ends as the latter approach of addressing the issue will only be counter-productive. We condemned the violent acts last night and supported our front line staff who steadfastly carry out their duties.
Ends/Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Issued at HKT 21:26
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