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say, Fire Services Department, Building Ordinance Office and other government departments, each of them having their own set of control rules to be enforced. It is not unheard of that sometimes it takes up to 3 months to get a Restaurant Licence and the operators would start their business even before they had obtained it. There were also opportunities for corruption.
In order to remedy the situation a working party comprising several government departments* have worked out a new set of procedures in the licensing of food business and come to the following recommendations:
(a) that the system of referral between government departments should be refined to the minimum essentials;
(b) that a comprehensive manual should be produced to give potential applicants for licences;
(c) that an authorized person (i.e. a qualified architect) should handle most applications and pilot them from the initial stage to the grant of the appropriate licence, including preparing all necessary plans and oversees construction and fitting out of the premises;
(d) that a review should be made of all food business licences and their conditions to ensure consistency and to remove corruption opportunities; and
(e) finally, that a working party be set up to formulate the details of the new licensing system.
The central idea of this proposal is to place the burden of checking on the compliance of Crown lease conditions, Fire Services conditions, etc. all on the authorized persons who are subjected to disciplining rules and sanctions by law as to what they certify to be in compliance with rules and regulations under the Building Ordinance. It cuts short the time required for referral between government departments, it reduces the risk of corruption, and eliminates the criticism that, for example, the Urban Council or the City Services Department endorses the activities of a food business premises such as a factory canteen which is infringing Fire Services or Building Ordinance Office regulations and is therefore rendered unlicenseable. The criticism that one may have of this proposal is that the cost of setting up a usual food business premises would be aggravated by the fees payable to the authorized persons. Also, if the construction business should again prosper, no authorized person would be interested to give his service to a small client.
I have therefore requested that the C.P.D. be assured in writing by the Chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects that the two points of concern above-mentioned will not likely arise and there are enough authorized persons to serve even the several food business operators. I understand that the Chairman of HKIA had given such assurance.
* The departments involved are the Corruption Prevention Department of ICAC, City Services Department, New Territories Services Department, Fire Services Department, Building Development Department, Lands Department and Labour Department.
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The Food Hygiene Select Committee had in principle supported this new system of licensing and we are waiting for the final details from the working party. I hope this procedure, if accepted, could start within the year.
The Food Hygiene Select Committee has also in principle supported the setting up of a new category of food licence, and that is the Beverage Restaurant Licence, for premises which serve drinks and beverages and which at present would have to be licensed as Light Refreshment Restaurants. The licensing conditions are far more lenient and we hope this will create ease and flexibility to the business operators. The Food Hygiene Committee will keep this new licensing in practice under review. In the meantime, Light Refreshment Restaurant Licences will continue to be issued.
With these words, Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
ADJOURNMENT—5.02 p.m.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): Members, we stop the debate at this point in time and for the other members, they will deliver their speeches on Thursday. We conclude our business now and I formally declare the meeting adjourned until Thursday, 17 January 1985 at 2.30 p.m. Meeting will be resumed on that day.
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