Hawkers Fume As Lack Of Quorum Halts Legco Hearing

A group of hawkers on Friday accused lawmakers of insulting them and ignoring their plight after a Legislative Council public hearing to let them air their grievances was cancelled on Friday morning because not enough legislators were present.

The food safety and environmental hygiene panel special meeting was to hear from around 40 deputations about the allocation of slots for hawkers, but only eight lawmakers were present at 9am when the meeting was scheduled to start.

The panel has 30 members, meaning a total of 10 lawmakers had to be present for the meeting to proceed.

Michael Cheung from the Supporting Grassroots' Bazaar Alliance said the adjournment left the hawkers disappointed, and made them feel they weren't respected.

He said some of the hawkers travelled a long way from northern New Territories, only to learn that the meeting is cancelled.

The lawmakers present were panel chair Kwok Ka-ki, Andrew Wan, Ray Chan and Shiu Ka-chun from the pro-democracy camp and Yan Chan, Poon Siu-ping and Tommy Cheung from the pro-government side. Medical sector's Pierre Chan was also present.

Kwok apologised to groups and the officials who were there to attended the session.

He also said he will arrange a new meeting as soon as possible.

The undersecretary for food and health, Chui Tak-yi, said officials are willing to attend the new meeting if Legco make such an arrangement.

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