WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1988
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RESTAURANTS STOPPED FROM FLOUTING LAW
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THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES { AMENDMENT} (NO. 2) BILL 1988 WOULD PROVIDE THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS WITH THE NECESSARY TEETH TO PREVENT UNLICENSED RESTAURANTS FROM OPENLY FLOUTING THE LAW TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE GENERAL HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.
THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN SAID THIS DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON SECOND READING OF THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID HE SUPPORTED THE BILL WHICH WOULD EMPOWER A MAGISTRATE'S COURT TO MAKE A CLOSURE ORDER IN RESPECT OF PREMISES TO WHICH FOOD AND DRUG HYGIENE REGULATIONS APPLIED AND AGAINST WHICH A PROHIBITION ORDER HAD BEEN MADE AND NOT COMPILED WITH.
UNDER THE EXISTING LAW, ANY PERSON WHO OPERATED A RESTAURANT WITHOUT A LICENCE COMMITTED AN OFFENCE AND MIGHT BE PROSECUTED, HE SAID.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, DUE TO PROBLEMS IN INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW IT HAD NOT BEEN POSSIBLE SINCE 1972 FOR THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED TO CARRY OUT.A CLOSURE ORDER AGAINST AN UNLICENSED RESTAURANT.
"PROHIBITION ORDERS WHICH PROHIBIT THE USE OF THE PREMISES WERE OPENLY AND EASILY FLOUTED SIMPLY BY WILLINGNESS TO RECEIVE FURTHER SUMMONS AND PAYING HIGHER FINANCIAL PENALTIES IF FOUND GUILTY," HE NOTED.
MR CHEONG-LEEN SUGGESTED THAT BEFORE THE BILL CAME INTO FORCE ON OCTOBER 1, WIDE PUBLICITY SHOULD BE GIVEN ΤΟ ITS PROVISIONS TO ENSURE THAT BOTH THE COURTS AND THE TRADE WERE FULLY AWARE OF ITS PROVISIONS.
WINDING UP THE DEBATE, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON ADOLF HSU, SAID HE WAS GRATEFUL TO MR CHEONG-LEEN FOR BIS SUPPORT.
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"I WOULD LIKE TO ASSURE HIM THAT APPROPRIATE PUBLICITY WILL BE GIVEN TO THE BILL BEFORE IT COMES INTO OPERATION ON OCTOBER 1, HE ADDED.
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