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■政府最快明年初推出涉資2億元的「固定攤位小販區資助計劃」。圖為女人街攤檔。 資料圖片
政府最快明年初推出涉資2億元的「固定攤位小販區資助計劃」，5年內資助全港43個露天固定小販區的4,300個檔主，改裝攤檔以符合防火設備要求並美化外觀。花園街兩排攤檔去年火災導致9死34傷慘劇，凸顯本港小販區設備老化，小販經濟的作用萎縮。當局協助全港檔主提升攤檔設備水平，確有必要。長遠而言，當局應進一步發展小販經濟，配合香港國際都會的多元文化，發揮小販區的旅遊產業作用，創造就業和營商機會。
環顧全球，歐美等西方國家的跳蚤市場，貨品應有盡有，價格低廉，吸引不少當地居民和遊客。香港作為國際都會，更有需要提升小販經濟，吸引來自四面八方的旅客。
當局應和區議會商討細節，以更好地發揮各小販區的地方特色，藉資助計劃規劃小販區，使其成為別具特色的跳蚤市場、名牌特賣場或美食街等平民市集，以活化這些見證香港近半世紀發展的寶貴旅遊資源，配合國際大都會文化多元的形象，吸引更多旅客消費，充分發揮小販經濟的作用。計劃推行時，當局需顧及個別檔主的牌照和位置等，彈性處理。
Improve facilities to revitalize hawking business
The government will launch a HK$200 million "fixed-pitch hawker areas assistance scheme" as early as the beginning of next year to aid 4,300 hawkers in 43 on-street fixed-pitch hawker areas across the territory over a period of five years. Under the scheme, stalls will be renovated to be compliant with fire prevention requirements as well as beautified. The fire last year on the two rows of stalls in Fa Yuen Street that caused 9 deaths and 34 injuries revealed the aging problem of facilities in the hawker areas and the diminishing value of hawking business in Hong Kong. It is definitely necessary for the authorities to assist hawkers across the territory to upgrade facilities of their stalls. In the long term, the authorities should further develop the hawking business to tie in with the pluralistic culture of Hong Kong as a world city, and to capitalize on the value of the hawker areas to the tourism industry. This will also create job and business opportunities.
Take a look at other countries of the world. Flea markets in Europe and America have almost everything on sale at low prices. These markets attract a large number of local residents and tourists alike. As an international cosmopolitan, Hong Kong has to upgrade its hawking business so as to attract more tourists from all over the world.
The authorities should discuss details with District Councils to make better use of the local characteristics of various hawker areas. With the help of the assistance scheme, hawker areas can undergo planning and be turned into public markets, such as flea markets, brand outlets or gourmet streets, with unique local characteristics. Hawker areas in fact bear witness to the development of Hong Kong over half a century. Redevelopment means revitalizing these valuable tourism resources so that they fit in with the image of Hong Kong as a pluralistic cosmopolitan of the world. More tourists will be attracted to shop and spend in these areas, and so the value of hawking business can be fully exploited.While implementing the scheme, the authorities should take care of issues like licensing and locations for individual hawkers, and deal with these cases in a flexible manner. ■Translation by Tung-ming
（tungming23@gmail.com）
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