Newspaper hawkers are seeking a deal with publishers of free newspapers to distribute the papers for a fee - and threaten to mount a noisy campaign if refused.
The hawkers are upset because falling sales of newspapers since the free papers hit the streets are hurting their income.
The Hong Kong and Kowloon Newspaper Hawkers Association, with 2,000 members, has had talks with distributors and publishers.
If the hawkers do forge a deal to carry the free newspapers for a fee, it would also benefit the publications by giving them an additional 2,000-plus distribution points.
Hawkers complained of a 10 per cent to 20 per cent drop in newspaper sales volume after the second free newspaper, Headline Daily, hit the market last month.
A popular Chinese newspaper is also said to have suffered a 20 per cent drop in sales, which are seen to fall further after the third free paper, am730, hits the market today.
