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WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1991

AND ALTHOUGH THERE WAS GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL, MR TSAO SAID THE HOTEL INDUSTRY NEVERTHELESS HAD RESERVATIONS ON THE SHORT TITLE OF THE ORDINANCE.

FOR THIS REASON, THE AD HOC GROUP STUDYING THE BILL FELT THAT THE SHORT TITLE SHOULD BE AMENDED TO "HOTEL AND GUESTHOUSE ACCOMMODATION ORDINANCE" TO DISPEL POSSIBLE MISUNDERSTANDING ON THE TYPES OF ESTABLISHMENTS SUBJECT TO THE BILL, HE SAID.

"WHILE I MYSELF DO NOT SEE ANY STRONG REASON FOR AMENDING THE TITLE, AND MAKING SOME 80 INCIDENTAL AMENDMENTS AS WELL, IF STRONG CONCERN HAS BEEN EXPRESSED, AND IF THE AD HOC GROUP'S AMENDMENTS WOULD FIX THEM, NUMEROUS THOUGH THEY MAY BE, THEN I SHALL NOT STAND IN THE WAY OF THESE AMENDMENTS," MR TSAO SAID.

THIS BILL, HE STRESSED, DEALT WITH SAFETY OF LIFE AND LIMB AND WAS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO CATEGORISE HOTELS INTO CLASSES OF LUXURY WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE PURPOSE-BUILT.

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HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS HE WOULD BE MOVING AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE, MR TSAO SAID THEY INCLUDED A PROPOSAL TO DOUBLE THE FINANCIAL PENALTY BUT WITHOUT CHANGE TO THE IMPRISONMENT TERM.

NOTICE

ANOTHER AMENDMENT WAS THAT AN APPLICANT WOULD BE GIVEN IN THE EVENT THAT THE AUTHORITY INTENDED ΤΟ REFUSE HIS APPLICATION UNDER CLAUSE 8 (3).

AND

ALSO, CLAUSE 19 (1) (A) WOULD BE DELETED IN THE LIGHT OF REPRESENTATIONS FROM THE HOTEL INDUSTRY THAT THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS' POWER TO GIVE DIRECTIVE REGARDING THE OPERATION MANAGEMENT OF A HOTEL OR A GUESTHOUSE WAS Тоо WIDE AND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SOULD NOT GET INVOLVED IN SUCH MATTER.

WAR MEMORIAL PENSIONS BILL INTRODUCED

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THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL PENSIONS BILL 1991 WHICH SEEKS TO PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT OF PENSIONS TO BENEFICIARIES OF THE EXISTING HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL FUND AND FAR EASTERN RELIEF FUND, AND ΤΟ APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE QUALIFYING CRITERIA STIPULATED IN THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON ELIZABETH WONG, SAID THESE PENSIONS WOULD BE PAID IN RECOGNITION OF THE RECIPIENTS' WAR-TIME SUFFERING AND THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF BEING HELD IN CAPTIVITY.

AT PRESENT, BENEFICIARIES OF THE DECLARE THAT THEIR PERSONAL INCOME WAS THRESHOLD IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR A GRANT,

TWO FUNDS WERE REQUIRED то BELOW A SPECIFIED INCOME MRS WONG SAID.

/THE INCOME

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