ALLOCATION OF HAWKER STALLS

Mr Goh Choon Kang asked the Minister for the Environment whether the allocation of hawker stalls has been suspended and, if so, why.

Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng (for the Minister for the Environment): Mr Speaker, Sir, there are currently 902 approved hardship cases, and only 119 vacant hawker stalls in food centres. These hawker stalls are mostly in unpopular food centres. They have repeatedly been offered to applicants for hawker stalls, but they have not been taken up. My Ministry is therefore reviewing its policy on hawker stalls and pending the outcome of this review, it has stopped allocating hawker stalls and processing new applications.

Mr Goh Choon Kang (Braddell Heights): Sir, can the Senior Parliamentary Secretary be more specific as to what aspects of the policy are being reviewed and how long does his Ministry expect to take to complete the review?

Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng: Sir, I thought I have been very specific because the Question was on whether the allocation of hawker stalls has been suspended. However, on the other part of it, ie, the review part, what I can say is that we will do all we can to complete the review as soon as possible. There will not be any delay.

Mr Goh Choon Kang: Sir, will the criteria for applying a hawker licence be affected?

Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng: I think in all reviews, Mr Speaker, Sir, in all possibility, all criteria will have to be reviewed. I am afraid that will be affected.