WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1983
BILL TO IMPROVE CONTROL OF MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS
* * *
THE PURPOSE OF THE MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT BILL 1983 WAS TO INTRODUCE AN IMPROVED SYSTEM FOR THE LICENSING AND CONTROL OF MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON PATRICK WILLIAMSON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE BILL, IF PASSED, WOULD ALLOW LAWFUL MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS TO FLOURISH WHILE STRICT CURBS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE APPLIED TO UNLICENSED ONES, MR WILLIAMSON SAID IN MOVING THE BILL THROUGH ITS SECOND READING,
UNDER THE BILL, THE LICENSEE WILL BE REQUIRED TO EXERCISE PERSONAL SUPERVISION AND WILL BE HELD LIABLE IF HE FAILS TO KEEP HIS STAFF IN ORDER.
+HE WILL COMMIT AN OFFENCE UNLESS ABLE TO SHOW THAT. DESPITE PROPER DISCHARGE OF THIS DUTY CF PERSONAL SUPERVISION, THE OFFENCE WAS CAUSED BY SOMEONE ELSE'S CONDUCT AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED, MR WILLIAMSON EXPLAINED.
THE BILL DELETES THE REGULATION WHICH REQUIRES THAT CUSTOMERS BE MASSAGED ONLY BY MEMBERS OF THE SAME SEX.
MR WILLIAMSON SAID THAT THE INTENTION WAS THAT CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE FREE TO CHOOSE AS IT HAD BECOME SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE FOR MASSAGE PER SE TO BE ADMINISTERED BY A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITE SEX.
+ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST LICENSED ESTABLISHMENTS WHICH ACT AS A COVER FOR VICE WILL CONTINUE UNDER THE CRIMES ORDINANCE AND IF CONVICTED THEIR CHANCES OF RETAINING THEIR LICENCE WILL BE VIRTUALLY NON-EXISTENT, HE SAID.
THE CLOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN +MASSAGE+ AND +VICE MEANT THAT GREATER PENALTIES AND STRICTER LAWS WERE NEEDED TO ASSIST THE POLICE IN PROSECUTING UNLICENSED ESTABLISHMENTS WHERE +MASSAGE+ WAS A COVER FOR +VICE+, MR WILLIAMSON ADDED.
+TO THIS END, OPERATORS OF SUCH ESTABLISHMENTS WILL BE LIABLE TO GREATLY INCREASED PENALTIES RISING TO A FINE OF $100 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS ON A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT CONVICTION,+ HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TILL AUGUST 10.
/8