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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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Unfortunately on this issue, I find the USD playing the part of a coordinator and shouldering all the responsibility whereas departments which are actually involved hide behind without having to face the public. I think this whole thing goes against the social trend. The spirit of today's motion in my name hopes that government departments involved in the licensing process face up to the public, be accountable to the public and let the public monitor their performance. I hope Members will support the motion. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): We have 4 motion debates today and this is the first one. Will those who wish to speak limit their speeches to no more than 5 minutes?
MR. CHRISTOPHER CHUNG SHU-KUN (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): The motion has been put and seconded and I have not received any amendments. I will ask members who have recorded their intention to speak to take turns. Will Mr. LEUNG Kam-tao speak first?
MR. LEUNG KAM-TAO (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, Mr. SUEN's motion is on a very valuable topic. The issuance of restaurant licences has all along been criticized and become subjects of discontent. The length of time taken before a licence can be issued seriously tarnishes the image of the Urban Council. We need to find a way to speed up and improve the process and it is worthwhile to do so. Nevertheless, to improve the situation, we need to study thoroughly many aspects in addition to the points raised by Mr. Suen. For example, certain applicants do not react positively to departmental demands so that the whole process is delayed. The enforcement division of the USD does not take stringent actions when a licence is under process so that the issuing process is unnecessarily delayed. That is another point to take note. I think that to improve the licensing process, in addition to making improvements as suggested by Mr. SUEN, we must ask the Public Health Select Committee to go for an in-depth study in the hope of revamping the entire process and preventing more outside criticism being directed against us. Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
MR. CHAN KWOK-LEUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, the first task of the Urban Council as the licensing authority for general restaurants and eateries is of course attention to food hygiene and the environmental hygiene of restaurants so as to safeguard the health of our citizens. Given that restaurants are crowded places, we must also consider other aspects of structural safety, unblocked fire escapes, adequate fire fighting facilities etc. To do so, we must rely on the expertise of other government departments such as the Buildings Department and the Fire Services Department. When USD handled applications in the past, we were very efficient in scrutinizing hygiene
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