LICENSED HAWKERS (Particulars)

Mr Hwang Soo Jin asked the Minister for the Environment (a) how many licensed hawkers there were in Singapore as at 31st December, 1980; (b) how many more hawker-licences will be issued in 1981 ; (c) what are the present criteria for approving applications for such a licence; and (d) what types of stall are available to newly licensed hawkers.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment (Mr Chor Yeok Eng) (for the Minister for the Environment): ( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, there are 25,889 licensed hawkers as at 31st December, 1980. 7,124 are housed in the Ministry of the Environment's food centres and markets, 15,501 are in food centres or markets managed by statutory boards, and 3,264 are operating in backlanes and streets.

We do not set any quota for new licences. As there are enough hawkers, new licences are only issued on grounds of hardship and for cleared market stalls. In 1980, 325 persons were issued licences.

The criteria for the issue of hawker licences under hardship cases are that the applicant must be a Singapore citizen, aged between 40 and 60 years and not gainfully employed. In addition, he must have dependants to support and a family income of less than $500 per month. There must also be no licensed hawker among his immediate family members.

Market produce stalls and stalls for the sale of piece and sundry goods are freely available to newly licensed hawkers. As we are short of cooked food stalls for the resiting of street hawkers, there will only be a limited number of these for new licensees.