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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1983
+THIS IS A MATTER OF CONCERN AS THE SMALL AND POWERLESS TENANTS OF OTHER FLATS IN THE SAME BUILDING OFTEN FIND THEMSELVES POWERLESS TO PREVENT FLATS IN THEIR BLOCK BEING USED IN BREACH OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE GRANT OF THE SITE.
+I WOULD LIKE TO PLACE ON RECORD THE NEED FOR FURTHER WORK TO BE DONE TO CLEAN UP OTHER DOMESTIC PREMISES.
+ I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK A NUMBER OF DISTRICT BOARDS FOR TAKING ACTION IN THESE MATTERS AND TO ENCOURAGE OTHER DISTRICT BOARDS ALSO TO CLEAR VICE ESTABLISHMENTS FROM OUR TERRITORY, MISS BENNETT SAID.
MRS CHOW SAID THE BILL +REDEFINES IN LEGAL TERMS THE OPERATION OF MASSAGE PARLOURS AND RENDERS THE CONTROL OF SUCH ESTABLISHMENTS MUCH MORE REALISTIC AND ENFORCEABLE+.
INITIALLY, SHE HAD RESERVATIONS ABOUT CERTAIN OF THE POINTS CONTAINED IN THIS BILL, STEMMING MAINLY FROM THE DISCRETIONARY POWER THAT THE BILL PROVIDED FOR THE LICENSING AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE OPTIONAL LICENSING CONDITIONS.
+THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SINCE EXPLAINED THAT THE IMPOSITION OF SUCH CONDITIONS NEED TO BE GIVEN FLEXIBILITY TO COVER VARYING CIRCUMSTANCES.
+WE HAVE ALSO BEEN INFORMED THAT THE DISTRICT OFFICERS CONCERNED WILL ALSO BE CONSULTED FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN IMPOSITION OF OPTIONAL CONDITIONS IS BEING CONSIDERED.
+HOWEVER AS THERE IS NO LEGAL PROVISION TO NECESSITATE SUCH CONSULTATION, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS AGREED TO UPDATE MEMBERS ON OPTIONAL CONDITIONS AS AND WHEN THEY ARE ADDED ONTO THE LIST.
+THIS HAS GONE SOME WAY TOWARDS ALLAYING MY WORRIES, BUT I WOULD URGE THE ADMINISTRATION TO BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS TO PREVENT ABUSE AS WELL AS INCONSISTENCY, MRS CHOW SAID.
THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON PATRICK WILLIAMSON, THANKED THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE BILL AND FOR THE CARE WITH WHICH THEY HAD SCRUTINISED ITS PROVISION.
HE SAID THE AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL MENTIONED BY MR PETER WONG HAD HIS FULL SUPPORT, THEY INCLUDED ONE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE: THAT PROVIDED FOR THE MANDATORY REVOCATION OF A LICENCE HELD BY A LICNSEE WHO HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF AN OFFENCE RELATING TO VICE ESTABLISHMENTS UNDER THE CRIMES ORDINANCE.
THIS IS A NEW PROVISION WHICH REFLECTS OUR RESOLVE TO STOP THE USE OF MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS AS COVERS FOR VICE ACTIVITIES,+ HE ADDED.
NOTING THAT BOTH MRS CHOW AND MR PETER WONG HAD DRAWN ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR THE LICENSING AUTHORITY TO CONSULT THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WHEN FIXING THE CONDITIONS TO BE APPLIED TO ANY PARTICULAR LICENCE, MR WILLIAMSON TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO REASSURE MEMBERS THAT THIS WOULD INVARIABLY BE DONE.
/HE WAS