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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
Thanks to the joint efforts of the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the support rendered by the Police, the Housing Department (HD) succeeded in eliminating much of the illegal cooked food hawking activity in Public Housing Estates (PHEs).
Six illegal cooked food hawking black spots in PHEs were identified under the Government's Team Clean initiatives in improving territory-wide environmental hygiene. A total of about 200 joint operations were carried out in these estates including Tai Wo Hau, Lei Muk Shue, Shek Lei (I), Lower Wong Tai Sin (II), Wah Fu and Lok Wah (North). More than 210 seizures were enforced and 44 suspected illegal hawkers arrested.
Illegal hawkers in the vicinity of the six estates were also being dealt with, they included Lower Wong Tai Sin (I) Estate, Shun Tin Estate, On Yam Estate, Kwai Fong Estate, Wong Chuk Hang Estate and Ap Lei Chau Estate. The HD would continue its actions against illegal hawking at other PHEs by phases.
The HD's Assistant Director (Estate Management), Mr Lai Ip-cheung said today (July 10) that illegal cooked food hawking was harmful to the environment in PHEs and the food they prepared was not hygienic. Residents living nearby these black spots where dozens of hawkers operating till midnight were greatly annoyed by the nuisance, he added.
"We are fully aware of the great mobility of illegal hawkers, therefore our efforts have to be sustainable enough to curb recurrent hawking. HD would take a "zero tolerance" approach against illegal hawking and would use every possible means to eliminate the problem," he said.
"We would like to plea for support from all residents, 'Don't buy from illegal hawkers'. Only when we stop buying from them completely then the hawkers would not be able to exist. Residents should contact respective estate management offices to report hawking activities," he added.
Mr Lai emphasized that the hygiene and cleanliness of Hong Kong could only be achieved and sustained with the involvement and full support from the community.
End/Thursday, July 10, 2003
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