HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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As regards the third part of the question, after completion of the licensing procedures, the Director of Housing is duly informed of the particulars of the licence and any subsequent change of licence-holder.
The last part of the question asks if the Department maintains constant contact with the Housing Department to ensure that licensees comply with the licensing conditions at all times.
The Department always liaises with the Housing Department in licensing restaurants at housing estates. Applications for restaurant licences are in the first instance referred to the Director of Housing for comment and clearance. Thereafter, subject to the applicant meeting all licensing requirements, the premises concerned will be issued with a restaurant licence. After the issue of a licence, the premises will be subject to regular inspection by Health Inspectors and the Director of Housing will be informed in detail of any prosecutions taken as well as any other action such as imposition of suspension order in respect of the premises.
Mr. Francis Tang Chi-ho (in Cantonese);—In response to Mr. CHAN's reply. I have two follow-up questions. First, for Group B estates, especially those over 30 years old, many licences were issued by the then Resettlement Department and they have been handed down through the years. I would like to know if the licensing procedures in those days were similar to existing ones as described by Mr. CHAN and if licences handed down have been followed and accepted by the Housing Department.
Secondly, it has now been discovered that for light refreshment restaurant licences issued in the past for premises in recently redeveloped estates, the Housing Department does not agree to the gross floor area as measured. This shows that shopowners have occupied space without authority. Which party should be held responsible for the discrepancies in the plans? I refer to paragraph 5 of the reply which states that the relevant department is informed before the Department approves a layout plan. I want to know more about this. Why is there discrepancy?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese);—Mr. Chairman, up to the present, the issuance of light refreshment restaurant licences in respect of estates in the earlier phases or Group B estates of Mark I to Mark VI types is processed in accordance with the policy of the Urban Council. The Director of Housing also enters into an agreement with the tenant in which conditions are specified. These include general and specific conditions and such an agreement has remained unchanged.
On your second point, shopowners may have expanded into exposed areas because of the small size of their premises. If a shop gets approval from the Director of Housing to put in seats for business, the Council will agree.
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