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FHB's statement on handling of illegal hawking activities by FEHD staff on first day of Lunar New Year

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Regarding the handling of illegal hawking activities by the staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) on the first day of the Lunar New Year (February 8), a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau today (February 11) issued the following statement:

"Some political parties and student associations issued statements on the riot in Mong Kok, accusing that it was caused by the joint raids of FEHD and the Police against the hawkers, which has led to clashes with the public. We are of the view that such comments are unfounded and would confuse the public.

In fact, in his statement on February 9 and media sessions in the evening of February 9 and the morning of February 10, the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, explained in details the handling of the illegal hawking activities by FEHD in Mong Kok on February 8. He pointed out that hawker control officers of FEHD were conducting general squad patrol. At that time, they did not issue any warning nor take any enforcement action against the hawkers selling cooked food illegally, let alone conducting raids. However, they were already surrounded, scolded and pushed around by over 50 persons, causing injury to a squad member. During that time, two carts carrying cooked food were also being pushed towards squad members. In view of the above clashes and violent acts, and the concerned cooked food stalls involving boiling oil and using flame cooking, as well as in the interest of the safety of the members of the squad and the large number of people at the scene, FEHD called for police assistance at about 9.40pm.

We also note that there were media reports on February 10 quoting hawkers at the site of Mong Kok as saying that they were not being dispersed by FEHD when the above clashes occurred.

The claims by some people that the riot was caused by hawker management are unfair and untrue. We therefore consider it necessary to make clarifications and set the record straight."

Ends/Thursday, February 11, 2016
Issued at HKT 22:40

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12 Apr 2019