Page 599 of 606
Page 599 Page 599 of 606
Page 599 of 606
582
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
reservation about this because it depends on what time of the day we are talking about. There are, however, also quiet areas in the Yau Tsim Mong District. If nuisance is caused to these areas, the LLB will consider imposing additional licensing conditions, such as restriction on the hours for selling liquor. But if no complaint has ever been received but restriction on the hours for selling liquor is imposed, it is bound to cause discontent among the trade and the investors and such a move is also unfair to them. It is therefore not necessary to impose a blanket restriction on the hours for sale of liquor. Unless circumstances warrant and there are justifications to support forbidding the selling of liquor between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., there is no need for us to spend time considering this issue at the moment. The LLB will only consider imposing restriction on the hours for selling liquor unless nuisance is caused to the residents in the vicinity in a particular case. Otherwise, as I have mentioned just now, we will not consider imposing a blanket restriction for the time being.
Mr. Stanley Ng Wing-fai (in Cantonese):—I have proposed reviewing the policy of granting liquor licences at the Council and I particularly focused on nuisances caused by liquor selling premises to residents. In fact, members of the LLB and I have met several times with a view to reviewing the liquor licensing policy. As pointed out by many Members just now, a lot of government departments are involved in liquor licensing matters. Last year, when the LLB attempted to conduct surprise inspections to some liquor selling premises, no Police assistance could be sought. I would like to ask Mr. Wong whether the LLB can arrange meetings with the Police and other relevant government departments for the purpose of reviewing the liquor licensing policy as soon as possible.
Mr. San Stephen Wong Hon-ching (in Cantonese):—Thank you for Mr. Ng Wing-fai's question. At present, the LLB is liaising with the Police. We will convene a special meeting at the end of the month to review the policy on inspections of liquor selling premises. We hope to get assistance from the Police. The Police are the executive arm of the LLB in inspecting liquor selling premises and the LLB is the licensing authority for liquor licences. The task of the LLB cannot be accomplished without Police assistance. If the LLB is not well-informed, it will bring about undesirable consequences when handling the work of the Police in respect of inspections of liquor selling premises and undercover operations. Therefore, we will convene a special meeting with the Police by the end of the month to look into each other's difficulties and make our requests. We hope to get their assistance. Thank you Mr. Ng for raising this question.
Ms. Ada Wong Ying-kay (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask the Chairman of the LLB a follow-up question. Take Staunton Street as an example, if the residents observe that the number of liquor selling premises in the neighbourhood is likely to be on the increase and ask the LLB to restrict the
Page 599 of 606
Page 599 of 606
Page 599