HAWKERS (Eligibility for public assistance allowances)

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon asked the Minister for Social Affairs whether hawkers are eligible for public assistance allowance and, if not, why.

Mr E. W. Barker (Acting Minister for Social Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, hawkers are not eligible for public assistance allowances as long as they are holders of a current hawker's licence. A licensed hawker is presumed to be in regular employment, and it is regretted that the Social Welfare Department cannot consider such cases for public assistance. This presumption is necessary as it is not possible to assess the actual income of hawkers, particularly the itinerant ones.

The Department will, however, consider applications for public assistance from hawkers who are temporarily incapacitated by illness, provided the applicants can produce the necessary medical certificate.

Hawkers who have become unemployed and have surrendered their current hawker's licences to the Hawkers Department will be eligible for public assistance.