TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1990
1
EXCO APPROVES LICENSING SYSTEM FOR GUESTHOUSES
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE A PLAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION (CNTA) TO OPERATE A LICENSING SYSTEM FOR GUESTHOUSES.
UP BY A
LEGAL
THE PLAN WAS DRAWN
PLANNING COMMITTEE COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CNTA, THE SECURITY BRANCH, THE DEPARTMENT, THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE, THE FIRE SERVICES
DEPARTMENT AND THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION.
OUTLINING DETAILS OF THE PLAN AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (TUESDAY), THE ACTING REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR K.K. FUNG, SAID THE CNTA WOULD CONSULT THE RELEVANT ORGANISATIONS AND DISTRICT BOARDS ON THE COMMITTEE'S PROPOSALS BEFORE INTRODUCING RELEVANT LEGISLATION INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
PRIVATE
ORGANISATIONS TO BE CONSULTED WILL MAINLY BE THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON
BUILDING MANAGEMENT, THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION, THE HONG KONG HOTELS ASSOCIATION, THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG HOTEL OWNERS LTD. AND THE HONG KONG YOUTH HOSTELS ASSOCIATION.
AS THE VIEWS OF CERTAIN DISTRICT BOARDS, SUCH CHAI AND ISLANDS, WILL ALSO BE SOUGHT,
YAU
TSIM,
WAN
MARCH.
IT IS HOPED THAT CONSULTATION WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE
RND OF
MR FUNG SAID THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED LICENSING SYSTEM IN WAS TO ENSURE THAT GUESTHOUSES COMPLIED WITH EXISTING REQUIREMENTS
SAFETY AND RESPECT OF FIRE SAFETY, STRUCTURAL
HEALTH AND HYGIENE CONDITIONS UNDER THE RELEVANT ORDINANCES.
WHICH WOULD
THE SCOPE OF CONTROL WOULD INCLUDE ALL GUESTHOUSES PROVIDED TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION TO TOURISTS AND TRANSIENTS AND EXCLUDE ACCOMMODATION NORMALLY LET FOR PERIODS OF A MONTH OR MORE.
"THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING
FROM COMMITTEE WILL THEREFORE BE DRAWN MOSTLY
EXISTING LEGISLATION, INCLUDING THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE AND THE FIRE SERVICES ORDINANCE.
CLEAN AND PROVISIONS
A "GUESTHOUSES WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO BE KEPT IN HYGIENIC CONDITION AT ALL TIMES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE", HE SAID.
IN
MR FUNG ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 2.500 EXISTING ESTABLISHMENTS GUESTHOUSES WOULD FALL WITHIN THE MEANING OF A GUESTHOUSE. THESE WERE FOR BUDGET TOURISTS IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS; HOTELS; HOLIDAY FLATS, SUCH AS
ON CHEONG CHAU; GUESTHOUSES FOR HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS; LOW-RISE MOTELS AND YOUTH HOSTELS.
THOSE
PEOPLE LOCAL
IN
/HOWEVER, HE