Page 124 of 135
208
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
unlikely to wait. The tenant will have to get control of the premises before he can decorate and get approval?
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Mr Bernacchi, will you accept that as a supplementary question?
MR BERNACCHI (in English):—Yes, Mr Chairman, but the tenant can surely take possession of the premises, and then apply for a liquor and restaurant licence before he actually spends money on renovation and construction work to make the premises suitable for a restaurant and for a liquor bar.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):—At least they have to pay rent?
MR BERNACCHI (in English):—Yes, at least they have to pay rent. I am sorry, I repeat again that in regard to multi-storey buildings, the Licensing Board is studying the feasibility of issuing some general policies on this point.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):—In multi-storey buildings, we have to ask the landlord, but after we ask them and because we are controlled by the regulations, we have to give them a licence, so why do we have to ask them, there is no such need?
CHAIRMAN (in English):—I will ask Mr BERNACCHI, again, whether he will accept that too as a supplementary question, or take it as the pretext of a debate. I hope he will accept it as a supplementary question. (Laughter).
MR BERNACCHI (in English):—I accept that indeed, but I would ask Miss YEUNG to repeat it because I am afraid that I do not quite understand it. (Laughter).
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):—The Urban Council is bilingual, so I have to understand your English, you should understand my Cantonese. (Laughter).
MR BERNACCHI (in English):—Yes.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):—What I mean is that we have a provision whereby we have to ask whether the tenants agree and we give them two weeks' time to let them have their comments and they can tell through the City District Office, but after they are consulted and the application approved by the Fire Services Department and the Public Works Department, and according to law, we have to approve and therefore we, Councillors, are placed in a dilemma. Some tenants ask us why are we consulted because our opinions are not heeded and approval is given in any way, so we are placed in the middle and we are in a very difficult position. I don't know whether Mr BERNACCHI understands this.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 124 of 135
209
CHAIRMAN (in English):—The Chair will accept that as a supplementary question because you put it in such eloquent Cantonese but it is still contrary to Standing Orders. (Laughter). Mr BERNACCHI, will you please answer it? (Laughter).
MR BERNACCHI (in English):—First of all, we are compelled by law to consider all objections from anyone who thinks that he will be aggrieved by the issue of such a licence. That applies to tenants of multi-storey buildings adjoining the unit concerned and of course to landlords and owners as well. Secondly, we do not pay no heed to the tenants' objections. We pay great heed and it is for that reason that I myself am very much in favour of some general policy statement to be issued by the Licensing Board as to when a licence is likely to be issued and when a licence is not likely to be issued in respect of these multi-storey buildings.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):—Thank you, Mr BERNACCHI. I raise this point hoping that before a decision is made Mr BERNACCHI should look into this carefully.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Mr Bernacchi, will you give Miss Yeung that assurance?
MR BERNACCHI (in English):—Yes, I will.
MR LAWRENCE H. L. FUNG (in English):—Mr Chairman, I am all confused by the questions and answers. I gather from the sense of Miss Yeung's question that what she really would like is to expedite the granting of liquor licences for the benefit of applicants of liquor licences, so could Miss Yeung please clarify the last three words of her question which is 'the common good'. What is meant by 'the common good?
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Miss Yeung, would you like to answer that question please?
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):—'Good' is not only related to the applicants but also related to tenants.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Will you accept that, Mr Fung? (Laughter).
MR FUNG (in English):—Yes, I think I will. (Laughter).
MR BERNACCHI (in English):—On a point of clarification, that was what I understood.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—That is most courteous of Mr FUNG, and also Miss YEUNG must be grateful for Mr BERNACCHI's support. (Laughter).
Page 124 of 135