History Timeline of PAI-tONGS policies
1940-2025
2019-2025
2009-2018
1940s–1972
2002-2008
1973-2001
Generational Challenges
Policy Review
Post‑WWII InfluxEarly Regulation
Declining Demand
Tightened Controls
2009–2018: Policy Review
Licensing Policy Review:
- In 2009, amid an ongoing natural decline in hawker numbers, Hong Kong reviewed its hawker licensing policy.
- Between July 2009 and April 2012, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued 61 new itinerant licenses (for frozen desserts) and 218 new fixed-pitch licenses (for other categories).
Fire Safety Improvements:
- After a major fire at a pai dong on Flower Garden Street in Mong Kok in November 2011—which resulted in 9 deaths and 34 injuries—the government invested HK$230 million in 2013 to enhance fire safety.
- This included relocating stalls away from building exits and emergency routes and recalling 854 licenses.
2019–2025: Generational Challenges
Reallocating Vacant Spaces: Following the mid‑2018 conclusion of the Fixed‑Pitch Hawker Assistance Scheme, vacant hawker stalls (both within and outside designated areas) were identified in 2019 and 2022 for potential re‑allocation. This initiative led to the issuance of 523 new fixed‑pitch hawker licenses (other categories) to eligible applicants.
Current License (as of December 2024): At the end of December 2024, the number of fixed-pitch (excluding Temporary Hawker Licences) and itinerant hawker licences in the urban area were 4,651 and 97 respectively. The number of fixed-pitch (excluding Temporary Hawker Licences) and itinerant hawker licences in the New Territories were 197 and 136 respectively.
Approximately 60% of current license holders are over 60 years old, and strict inheritance rules continue to threaten the long‑term continuity of the hawking trade.
1973–2001: Tightened Controls
Stopping New Licenses: Due to various issues associated with street vending, from the early 1970s the former Urban Council generally stopped issuing new hawker licenses and prohibited the transfer and inheritance of itinerant licenses.
Designated Hawker Areas: To improve management, the government set aside specific trading areas. On March 14, 1975, the Tong Choi Street Hawkers’ Recognized Area—the first official hawker zone in Hong Kong—was established.
Decline in Numbers: These measures led to a significant reduction in hawker numbers; by 1980, the total had dropped by around 70% from 1972, reaching approximately 20,000 hawkers.
2002-2008: Declining Demand
With rising living standards in Hong Kong, the demand for hawker shopping declined.
As of December 31, 2008, there were 6,589 fixed-pitch hawker licenses (including dai pai dong) and 546 itinerant hawker licenses across Hong Kong.
License Surrender Initiative: In 2002, the government launched a five‑year “Itinerant Hawker Voluntary Surrender of License Scheme” to encourage hawkers to give up their licenses. Under the scheme, hawkers could choose one of three options:
- Switch to an available fixed-pitch license
- Rent a stall in a public market with preferential rates
- Receive a HK$30,000 subsidy This scheme, later extended to 2012, resulted in at least 339 itinerant hawkers surrendering their licenses.
Post‑WWII Influx and Early Regulation
After World War II, large numbers of Mainland Chinese refugees fled to Hong Kong amid political instability and famine. Lacking education and technical skills, many turned to street hawking as a means of survival. According to the Hong Kong Hawkers Association, by 1949 there were at least 70,000 hawkers.
As the number of hawkers grew, the government began to regulate street trading. In 1946, Hong Kong issued its first hawker license, and in 1958, a dedicated hawker management team was established.
Hawker licenses were divided into two types:
Fixed-Pitch Hawker Licenses & Fixed-Pitch Hawker Licenses:
History Timeline of PAI-tONGS policies
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Transcript
History Timeline of PAI-tONGS policies
1940-2025
2019-2025
2009-2018
1940s–1972
2002-2008
1973-2001
Generational Challenges
Policy Review
Post‑WWII InfluxEarly Regulation
Declining Demand
Tightened Controls
2009–2018: Policy Review
Licensing Policy Review:
Fire Safety Improvements:
2019–2025: Generational Challenges
Reallocating Vacant Spaces: Following the mid‑2018 conclusion of the Fixed‑Pitch Hawker Assistance Scheme, vacant hawker stalls (both within and outside designated areas) were identified in 2019 and 2022 for potential re‑allocation. This initiative led to the issuance of 523 new fixed‑pitch hawker licenses (other categories) to eligible applicants.
Current License (as of December 2024): At the end of December 2024, the number of fixed-pitch (excluding Temporary Hawker Licences) and itinerant hawker licences in the urban area were 4,651 and 97 respectively. The number of fixed-pitch (excluding Temporary Hawker Licences) and itinerant hawker licences in the New Territories were 197 and 136 respectively.
Approximately 60% of current license holders are over 60 years old, and strict inheritance rules continue to threaten the long‑term continuity of the hawking trade.
1973–2001: Tightened Controls
Stopping New Licenses: Due to various issues associated with street vending, from the early 1970s the former Urban Council generally stopped issuing new hawker licenses and prohibited the transfer and inheritance of itinerant licenses.
Designated Hawker Areas: To improve management, the government set aside specific trading areas. On March 14, 1975, the Tong Choi Street Hawkers’ Recognized Area—the first official hawker zone in Hong Kong—was established.
Decline in Numbers: These measures led to a significant reduction in hawker numbers; by 1980, the total had dropped by around 70% from 1972, reaching approximately 20,000 hawkers.
2002-2008: Declining Demand
With rising living standards in Hong Kong, the demand for hawker shopping declined.
As of December 31, 2008, there were 6,589 fixed-pitch hawker licenses (including dai pai dong) and 546 itinerant hawker licenses across Hong Kong.
License Surrender Initiative: In 2002, the government launched a five‑year “Itinerant Hawker Voluntary Surrender of License Scheme” to encourage hawkers to give up their licenses. Under the scheme, hawkers could choose one of three options:
Post‑WWII Influx and Early Regulation
After World War II, large numbers of Mainland Chinese refugees fled to Hong Kong amid political instability and famine. Lacking education and technical skills, many turned to street hawking as a means of survival. According to the Hong Kong Hawkers Association, by 1949 there were at least 70,000 hawkers.
As the number of hawkers grew, the government began to regulate street trading. In 1946, Hong Kong issued its first hawker license, and in 1958, a dedicated hawker management team was established.
Hawker licenses were divided into two types:
Fixed-Pitch Hawker Licenses & Fixed-Pitch Hawker Licenses: