Should more ice-cream-hawker licences be issued?
Why limit new ice-cream hawker licences to only 61 when 3,500 people are unemployed yet willing to do the work? Why are we so strict on limiting hawkers?
Come to Ma On Shan, the streets are deserts with neither markets nor culture between the private housing estates and shopping centres. Ma On Shan could use more hawkers and street life.
Meanwhile unemployment has climbed to 5 per cent. The government says 'we won't interfere' as companies lay off a large number of workers. On the other hand how are these increasing numbers of unemployed supposed to survive? Is it not the government that should at least legalise and find ways for them to eke out some sort of living, as long as they are willing to do the work and take the business risks?
This is a HK$6,000-a-month job, 3,500 people want it and the government will reject 3,439 people for whom HK$6,000 is vital for surviving during this crisis when they would otherwise have no income and face high food prices.
The government should relax the limit it imposed on hawker licences. Ice cream is not a nuisance on a hot day.