Hong Kong's hawkers could ‘disappear' by 2033 unless licensing rules are eased: lawmaker
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The plea came after research by the Legislative Council found that the number of fixed-pitch hawkers in Hong Kong had decreased by 40 per cent since 2000 to 4,848 in 2024, while itinerant street sellers plunged by 80 per cent over the same period to just 233.
'I feel that it is a big pity that the number of fixed-pitch hawkers and itinerant hawkers has dropped by a lot. We also have an ageing problem, with 90 per cent of itinerant hawkers over 60 years old,' lawmaker Doreen Kong Yuk-foon said on Wednesday.
'Based on these figures, particularly those for itinerant hawkers, there is a chance that the sector could disappear by 2033.'
Kong said authorities should consider opening up succession rules to allow the industry to survive, noting that other places such as Taiwan and Singapore had adopted a more relaxed approach to licensing.
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Under Hong Kong's current hawker licensing regime, fixed-pitch hawkers can transfer their licences to their spouse, children or parents, while itinerant ones cannot and must give up their permits if they choose to stop operating.
The lawmaker said she supported authorities opening up the licensing rules to allow hawkers' assistants to apply for licenses that have been surrendered or cancelled, and to give them priority based on their seniority.
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