WE REFER to the letter, "Fine customers of illegal hawkers", (my paper, Feb 27).

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has, since the beginning of the year, issued more than 570 tickets against illegal hawkers plying their trade in the vicinity of the Queenstown MRT station, including the fruit-seller your reader had referred to in the letter.

Following your reader's letter, we checked the site again. Though the fruit-seller was not at the site, we took enforcement action against three other illegal hawkers.

Illegal hawkers continue to engage in their illegal trade in Singapore because there is a ready clientele among the general population.

Over the years, the NEA has regularly informed the public not to patronise such illegal hawkers because of food hygiene and safety concerns. We will continue with our educational efforts.

Our officers will continue to monitor the site. The public can also call our 24-hour NEA Call Centre at 1800-CALL-NEA (1800-2255-632) if they spot any illegal hawking activities.

We thank your reader for the feedback and suggestions.

Mr S Satish Appoo
Director
Environmental Health Department
National Environment Agency