HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
341
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, as the Chairman of the Public Health Select Committee, I would like to put forth the following views on public health services:
(1) Licensing
1.
2.
Provisional Licensing System for Restaurants
Since its implementation in December 1995, the system has been welcomed by the trade because restaurant operators can legally conduct their business after obtaining a Provisional licence upon their fulfillment of the basic licensing requirements, and can obtain a full-year licence within 6 months. This has indeed enhanced the efficiency of the licensing process. To further shorten the processing time of the applications, the Buildings Department has adopted a 'Three-tier Verification System' since August 1996. Nevertheless, the departments concerned still have to work more closely, and the Buildings Department, in particular, has to increase its manpower and make a performance pledge in this respect accordingly. If the Fire Services Department, Buildings Department and Urban Services Department are able to work with sufficient manpower and full co-operation, the licensing time is bound to be much more shortened. As a result, restaurant operators can no longer conduct business illegally without any licence on this pretext, and the health of the public can be better protected.
In the past, some irresponsible, profit-minded people considered the application for a licence very time-consuming. They did not bother to apply for a licence at all, but simply operated an unlicensed business in defiance of the law and heedless of public health. We must find an effective way to deal them hard blows and bring them to justice.
Control of Sushi and Sashimi
The Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws as amended in November 1996 shall be in force on 1 March 1997. Thereafter, all shops engaged in the preparation and sale of this kind of food shall be required to obtain licences and fulfill the requirements on cleanliness and health. However, the existence of the By-laws provides no guarantee for public health. It is most important to ensure that the shop operators shall comply with the health requirements. Therefore, during the initial implementation stage of the By-laws, our Health Inspectors should step up inspection and sample testing of this kind of food so as to protect the health of the public,
(2) Public Health
1.
Special Publicity and Prosecution Exercise
We have launched a special publicity and prosecution exercise against the illegal posting of advertisements, improper storage of food items in siu mei and lo mei shops and illegal extension of food business outside the licensed premises. Despite the strenuous efforts of the Urban Services
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