HAWKERS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES (Control measures)

Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Health what measures he proposes to take for the control of hawkers at work sites of building projects

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health (Mr Chor Yeok Eng) (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, the current policy with regard to hawkers at construction sites is that cooked food and hot/cold drinks hawkers are permitted to ply at large construction sites provided that:

(a) there are no facilities nearby where the construction workers can buy food or drinks:

(b) such hawker does not cause obstruction or inconvenience to the general public:

(c) such hawker keeps his stall and the immediate vicinity clean and free of litter:

(d) the hawker dismantles his stall and moves away as soon as the construction is completed.

Officials of the Hawkers Branch have been instructed to control these hawkers in accordance with the policy I have described.

As any construction site cannot be prescribed for hawkers, the hawkers who are permitted to ply thereat are not licensed. This permits prosecution of the hawker for remaining at the site after the construction is completed. Authority to prosecute the hawker for failing to keep his stall and vicinity clean or for causing obstruction is contained in the Hawkers Regulations and the Public Cleansing Regulations made under the Environmental Public Health Act, 1968.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Parliamentary Secretary explain why licences are not issued to hawkers doing business at construction sites?

Mr Chor Yeok Eng: (In Mandarin): Just now I said that if there are no stalls selling food or drinks near the construction sites, we will allow hawkers to ply there. This is because these hawkers are only temporary there. When the work at the construction site is completed, they will be asked to go away. At present, there are many construction sites we have to take care of, but the number of such hawkers plying there is very few. Therefore, we do not intend to issue licences to them.