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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1991
PROPOSAL TO LICENSE HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
WITH THE ENACTMENT OF THE HOTEL ACCOMMODATION BILL 1990, ANY PERSON WHO OPERATES A HOTEL OR SIMILAR ACCOMMODATION WITHOUT A VALID LICENCE OR CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION WILL COMMIT AN OFFENCE AND WILL BE LIABLE TO A FINE OF $100,000, IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS AND A FINE OF $10,000 FOR EACH DAY DURING WHICH THE OFFENCE CONTINUES.
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON PETER TSAO, SAID THIS WHEN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE SAID: "HOTELS AND SIMILAR ACCOMMODATION ARE AT PRESENT NOT LICENSED. TO ENSURE THAT THEY COMPLY WITH EXISTING FIRE AND STRUCTURAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS, THE ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES THAT A LICENSING SYSTEM BE INTRODUCED FOR THE PURPOSES OF IMPOSING NECESSARY SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS FOR THEIR OPERATION AND KEEPING A COMPREHENSIVE REGISTER OF SUCH ESTABLISHMENTS.
"THIS BILL SEEKS TO CREATE A HOTEL ACCOMMODATION AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER A LICENSING SCHEME. ANY ESTABLISHMENT WHICH PROVIDES TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY PERSON WILL BE REQUIRED ΤΟ HAVE A LICENCE OR A CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION FROM THE AUTHORITY."
THE TYPES OF ESTABLISHMENTS WHICH COULD FALL WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CONTROL WERE HOTELS, GUESTHOUSES SITUATED IN HIGH-RISE BUILDING FOR BUDGET TOURISTS OR LOCAL PEOPLE, LOW-RISE MOTELS AND HOLIDAY FLATS MOSTLY ON THE OUTLYING ISLANDS.
MR TSAO SAID THE GOVERNMENT, HAVING CONSIDERED THE DEGREE OF POTENTIAL RISKS TO LIFE AND LIMB ASSOCIATED WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION, INTENDED THAT THE LICENSING SCHEME SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN PHASES.
PHASE I WOULD COVER HOTELS AND GUESTHOUSES FOR TOURISTS. OTHER TYPES OF ESTABLISHMENTS WOULD BE LICENSED IN SUBSEQUENT PHASES HAVING REGARD то EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PHASE I.
то MONITOR THOSE NON-PHASE I ESTABLISHMENTS, THE BILL EMPOWERED THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF EXEMPTION ΤΟ SUCH ESTABLISHMENTS, WHICH WOULD BE BROUGHT WITHIN LICENSING CONTROL, IN WHICH EVENT THEIR CERTIFICATES OF EXEMPTION WOULD BE REVOKED.
APPLICANTS FOR A LICENCE HAVE TO SATISFY THE AUTHORITY THAT THE PREMISES HAVE COMPLIED WITH REQUIREMENTS RELATING
TO STRUCTURAL AND FIRE SAFETY UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE AND THE FIRE SERVICES ORDINANCE.
WOULD
LICENCES WERE RENEWABLE ANNUALLY. HOWEVER, THE PREMISES BE RE-INSPECTED TO ENSURE THAT THE SAFETY STANDARDS WERE MAINTAINED BEFORE A LICENCE WAS RENEWED.
APPEALS WOULD BE DETERMINED BY A SPECIALISED
APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
APPEAL BOARD
/ER TSAO