They hawk their wares on sidewalks, pedestrian overpasses or underpasses. They are the target of crackdown by chengguan - urban management authorities - and neighbourhood complaints. They are China's street vendors.

The Cantonese call them "running ghosts" (zou gui) because they take off and vanish at the appearance, or sometimes just the sound, of chengguan. A more appropriate metaphor might be "running mice" as their trepidation is caused not only by "cats," those who can destroy them in one swoop, but by any "good citizen" who wants to report them.

Technically, they are breaking the law and should not have any presence on our supposedly pristine urban landscape.

But finally, one person has given them some respect - a senior official of the Construction Ministry, no less.

At a recent conference in Guangzhou, Vice-Minister Qiu Baoxing said our cities should have more tolerance for small peddlers and authorities should loosen restrictions at times such as weekends.

This reminded me of a poem I heard on the podcast "Antiwave." It tells of a street vendor's helplessness and pleas, moving me to tears.

First, let's count the reasons why they should not exist: They clog public walkways and constitute unfair competition with the stores they may block or that sell similar merchandise.

They are not properly registered or licensed, and therefore do not pay their due of fees and taxes. Their hygiene standard for food items may be below par, and some may sell counterfeits.

Now for the reasons why we should not act like Inspector Javert in Les Miserables: At the social nadir, they try to scrape a living not by stealing or robbing, but by providing services of small value but much convenience.

For most of them, registering a formal retail operation is not really an option. Had they amassed the capital to rent a storefront or pay all the fees, they would probably have moved up the social ladder.

We sometimes stumble upon the chengguan quasi-cops who beat up these peddlers and smash their food stands. Recently, chengguan have been described as "psychologically disadvantaged" because they get into scuffles with peddlers and could get hurt.

If they are "disadvantaged," would that turn the vendors into an "advantaged" lot? When you tear down their food carts and break their bowls and woks, it is their livelihood you are destroying.

I guess local governments are spending more money on these sweeps than vendors can make by selling hot potatoes or trinkets. Ironic, isn't it?

Do street vendors wreak havoc with our social and business order? Yes and no. They do create noise and crowds and litter the pavements, but they also add a sparkle to the vibrancy of a city scene and maybe even the seed of a future business segment.

Some cities, in fact, have already realized this. It was reported that in a city in Shandong Province, vendors are allowed to do businesses in residential areas and in non-major streets.

Many of China's giant wholesale hubs started some 25 years ago as such street ventures. My hometown had strict rules and stricter enforcement, driving most of the early peddlers out of town. The next town was more laissez-faire. As a result, it now has a "pillar industry" built on this cluster of erstwhile street entrepreneurs.

It is time our urban managers adjust their conception of what makes a city tick. We need gleaming towers of name-brand companies, but we also need small merchants who make the wheel of business run more smoothly. In the same vein, we need street performers as well as gilded theatres.

That does not imply there should be no regulation on street vending. For one thing, food safety should be taken seriously. They may not be hustling ginseng soup, but whatever they sell should not be a hazard to whoever buys it.

And the vendors should clean up after themselves, which will not add to their financial burden. When a cluster forms and business booms, the successful ones may be enticed to move into a sheltered space, and eventually to shopping malls.

Meanwhile, locations for street peddling should be managed so that vendors can profit from traffic flows yet will not negatively affect the surrounding area.

Most importantly, charge reasonable fees - fees that reflect their earnings and are commensurate with the services our urban administrators offer. And by "services," I do not mean wielding one's fists or batons or impounding or trashing merchandise.

As for us urban dwellers who may be inconvenienced by the vendors, put ourselves in their shoes and show some understanding and tolerance. That's what a harmonious society takes.

Email: raymondzhou@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/29/2006 page4)