WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1992
HOTEL ORDINANCE ADVISORY GROUP IN THE PIPELINE
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THE GOVERNMENT IS IN THE PROCESS OF FORMING THE ADVISORY GROUP ON IMPLEMENTATION OF HOTEL AND GUESTHOUSE ACCOMMODATION ORDINANCE TO FACILITATE EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON WEST, MR SUEN SAID THE NEW BODY WOULD ALSO PROVIDE A CHANNEL FOR COMMUNICATION WITH THE TRADE.
"THE GROUP WILL UNDERTAKE STUDIES ON THE BUILDING STRUCTURE AND FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS AS REQUIRED BY THE ORDINANCE IN ISSUING LICENCES TO HOTELS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS.
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"IT WILL ALSO REVIEW THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS INVOLVED IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW LAW SO AS TO ENSURE THAT THE SAFETY MEASURES CARRIED OUT BY HOTELS ARE EFFECTIVE AND PRACTICAL, MR SUEN SAID.
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THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON {BUILDING MANAGEMENT) WILL BE THE CONVENOR OF THE ADVISORY GROUP WHICH WILL COMPRISE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HOTEL INDUSTRY, RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL BODIES AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED.
MR SUEN SAID THE GROUP WOULD HOLD ITS FIRST MEETING SHORTLY.
TURNING TO THE ORDINANCE WHICH WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN MAY LAST YEAR, MR SUEN SAID IT WAS AIMED AT ENSURING THAT HOTELS AND SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENTS COMPLY WITH THE REQUIRED FIRE PREVENTION AND BUILDING STRUCTURAL SAFETY STANDARDS.
ANOTHER OBJECTIVE IS TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO KEEP A REGISTER OF ALL SUCH ACCOMMODATIONS, INCLUDING GUESTHOUSES, HOTELS, APARTMENTS, MOTELS AND HOLIDAY FLATS.
SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ORDINANCE, MORE THAN 2,000 SUCH ESTABLISHMENTS HAD ALREADY REGISTERED WITH THE OFFICE OF THE LICENSING AUTHORITY (OLA) AND WERE GRANTED CERTIFICATES OF EXEMPTION WITH WHICH THEY WERE EXEMPTED FROM LICENSING TEMPORARILY.
THE LICENSING SCHEME IS BEING CARRIED OUT IN STAGES, WITH GUESTHOUSES AND HOTELS COMING UNDER THE FIRST PHASE.
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"THESE HOTELS AND GUESTHOUSES ARE GIVEN, IN PRINCIPLE A YEAR EXEMPTION PERIOD TO ENABLE THEM TO UPGRADE THEIR FIRE PREVENTION INSTALLATIONS TO MEET THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1993, MR SUEN SAID.
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BUT HE STRESSED THAT EXTENSION OF THE EXEMPTION PERIOD OR FLEXIBLE IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN NEWLY INTRODUCED SAFETY REQUIREMENTS MIGHT BE CONSIDERED FOR INDIVIDUAL CASES, ESPECIALLY IN CONNECTION WITH HOTELS.
/MR SUEN