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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
4. The Honourable HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in Cantonese):-
(a) To what extent has vandalism by way of damage to trees and litter bins been taking place, especially at night, at Ko Shan Park?
(b) To what extent has the Police been co-operating with USD staff in curbing such vandalism, particularly at night?
(c) What further steps are being taken by the USD to tighten up supervision to reduce vandalism in Ko Shan Park?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):- The first part of the question asks to what extent has vandalism by way of damage to trees and litter bins been taking place, especially at night, at Ko Shan Park; the second part to what extent has the Police been co-operating with USD staff in curbing such vandalism, particularly at night; and the third part what further steps are being taken by the USD to tighten up supervision to reduce vandalism in Ko Shan Park.
There have been six cases of vandalism at Ko Shan Park in the last six months. Trees were damaged on three occasions and the other cases involved setting fire to the contents of litter bins. All incidents occurred at night.
There is a Police Visiting Book at the Park and the Police are aware of the problem and have made arrangements for beat patrols to check the Park periodically during the day and at night.
In addition to these precautions, the watchmen at the Ko Shan Theatre have been made aware of recent events and they, like the park-keepers, are alert to the need to discourage any further attempts at vandalism.
MR. TONG (in Cantonese):- I would like to ask, Mr. Chairman, apart from Ko Shan Park, are there similar cases of vandalism in other parks administered by the Council? As far as I know, there are such cases in other parks, especially in some places where the swings and litter bins have been destroyed or damaged. So apart from Ko Shan Park, should we also take notice of other parks administered by the UC?
MR. WONG (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, according to departmental records, such cases of vandalism do happen from time to time especially at night when there are fewer patrols. However, from international standards, such cases of vandalism are really quite controlled in Hong Kong and the Department has already told the beat patrols especially at night to pay particular attention.
5. MR. PETER C. K. CHAN asked the following question (in Cantonese):— For many years the Urban Services Department was the 'whipping boy' of disgruntled applicants for restaurant licences, who blamed it for long delays in issuing licences.
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In consequence, the three Departments involved set up a Licensing Conference whereby outstanding restaurant applications are reviewed, and action taken on speeding them up. May we have a full account on how this Licensing Conference has been operating since it was set up last year, and the improvements it has brought about?
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):— This question asks about the licensing conference system being carried out by the Department and is in two parts.
The first part of the question concerns how this system has been operating since it was set up.
The licensing conference system was set up at the end of January 1986. In this system the Department convenes a regular meeting or conference at which all applications for licences which are outstanding for more than 3 months are reviewed. These conferences are attended by senior officers from the Urban Services Department, the Buildings and Lands Department and the Fire Services Department. A representative from the ICAC also attends as an observer.
The objectives of the conference are to enable the three departments concerned with the issuing of food business licences to scrutinize together outstanding applications in order to identify the causes of delay and to find out ways and means of speeding up the licensing process with regard to individual cases and, where appropriate, for general application. Where necessary, applicants (and the authorized persons appointed by them) are invited to attend. Outstanding requirements are clearly explained to them by the relevant departmental officers and they are given the opportunity to ask questions concerning their applications. At the conferences applicants are invariably reminded that the licensing authority is the Urban Council and the conference is meant to advise them what they must do in accordance with the approved licensing policy of the Council before a licence can be issued. They are also warned that if they operate prior to the issue of a licence they are subject to prosecution.
So far, seven conferences have been convened and 45 applications outstanding for over 12 months have been scrutinized.
The second part of the question concerns the improvements which the licensing conference system has brought about.
During the licensing conferences, through case studies, the Department has identified a number of causes of delay in the administrative procedures and taken action, where necessary, jointly with the departments concerned, to make improvements. The improvements made include:-
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