WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1985
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PLAN TO MAKE LICENSING RENEWAL EASIER
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A BILL SEEKING TO CHANGE THE EXISTING CUMBERSOME PROCEDURE FOR IMPOSING NEW CONDITIONS OR FOR VARYING EXISTING ONES UPON THE RENEWAL OF ANY REGISTRATION, LICENCE OR PERMIT GRANTED UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE, WAS INTRODUCED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON CHAU TAK-HAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES (AMENDMENT)(NO. 3) BILL 1985, MR CHAU SAID THAT IT PROPOSED TO EMPOWER THE LICENSING AUTHORITY, THAT IS THE URBAN COUNCIL IN THE URBAN AREAS AND THE DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL SERVICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, TO IMPOSE ADDITIONAL OR ALTERNATIVE CONDITIONS UPON RENEWAL OF ANY REGISTRATION, LICENCE AND PERMIT. NINETY DAYS NOTICE WOULD, HOWEVER, BE GIVEN BEFORE THE EXPIRY OF SUCH REGISTRATION, LICENCE OR PERMIT.
HE EXPLAINED THAT FOR REASONS OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HYGIENE, IT WAS SOMETIMES NECESSARY FOR THE LICENSING AUTHORITY TO IMPOSÉ NEW CONDITIONS OR TO VARY EXISTING ONES UPON THE RENEWAL OF ANY REGISTRATION, LICENCE OR PERMIT.
THE BILL ALSO SOUGHT TO EXTEND THE PERIOD ALLOWED FOR AN APPLICATION FOR REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE LICENSING AUTHORITY FROM SEVEN TO 14 DAYS.
THE CONTENTS OF THE BILL HAD BEEN ENDORSED IN PRINCIPLE BY THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL, HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
MORE ACTIVE ROLE FOR PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL *****
THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL HAD SINCE 1980 BEEN ASSUMING A MORE ACTIVE APPROACH IN THE PROVISION OF DIRECT INDUSTRIAL SUPPORT SERVICES AND FACILITIES TO INDUSTRY, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON HARNAM GREWAL, SAID TODAY.
THIS FOLLOWED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS ON INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE REPORT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION OF THE HONG KONG ECONOMY, HE SAID.
MR GREWAL WAS MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL.
THE BILL WOULD ENABLE THE COUNCIL TO CARRY OUT ITS FUNCTIONS WITH GREATER FLEXIBILITY, HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
+IN THE LIGHT OF THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE COUNCIL, A REVIEW WAS UNDERTAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER THE AMENDMENTS REQUIRED TO ITS LEGISLATIVE AND FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK TO ENABLE IT TO FURTHER DISCHARGE ITS BROADENED RANGE OF RESPONSIBILITIES, HE EXPLAINED.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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