Licensing Fee for Street Hawkers Selling Tissue Paper Packs

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources whether the Ministry will consider reducing the licensing fee for street hawkers selling tissues to a nominal fee as these hawkers are usually in dire financial situations.

Under the current Street Hawking Scheme, licensed street hawkers are allowed to sell goods, which they have to state upfront at the point of application, at fixed locations in public spaces without the need to pay rent. They only pay an annual licence fee of $120 or $10 per month and this has remained unchanged since the start of the scheme 15 years ago. There are no plans to revise this.

Street hawking is not a permanent solution for someone trying to make a living. Those experiencing financial hardship can be assisted through the various help schemes available. There are also various Government-funded training programmes for those who wish to pick up new skills and seek more stable forms of employment.