MUTUAL EXCHANGE OF HAWKER PITCHES (Policy)

Mr Ho See Beng asked the Minister for Law and the Environment whether he is aware that the application by two hawkers for permission to exchange their hawker pitches in Seah Street and Purvis Street respectively (which are in the same Constituency) by mutual consent, alleging that there were too many hawkers selling the same things near their pitches, was rejected by the Hawkers Department, and if he will clarify his Ministry's policy in regard to requests for such mutual exchange of hawker pitches.

Mr Chor Yeok Eng (for the Minister for Law and the Environment): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, all along it has been the policy of the Ministry of the Environment not to encourage hawkers to exchange their stalls or pitches. The same policy is also being followed by the Housing and Development Board and other quasi-Government bodies, like the Jurong Town Corporation. This is to prevent too many hawkers in any area from selling the same type of food or drinks, as this will affect the business of the hawkers. It also prevents the possible malpractice of hawkers asking for a premium or tea money in an exchange of stalls or pitches. In other words, we do not want stallholders or licensees to indulge in such malpractice for monetary profit. Hence the policy of discouraging the exchange of hawker stalls or pitches.