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TUESDAY, MAY 18, 1993
UNDER THE LICENSING SCHEMP ENSHRINED IN THE BILL, ALL EXISTING BEDSPACE APARTMENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO INITIALLY OPERATE UNDER A CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION AND ULTIMATELY UNDER A LICENCE.
THE SPOKESMAN ANTICIPATED THAT THE SCHEME'S IMPLEMENTATION WILL RESULT IN ABOUT ONE-TENTH OR ABOUT 400 OF THE ESTIMATED BEDSPACE APARTMENT LODGERS HAVING TO BE REHOUSED.
"THE CNTA WELL ENSURE THAT ALL THOSE DISPLACED WILL BE GIVEN ASSISTANCE IN GETTING AN ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION.
OR
"THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT (SWD) WILL ASSIST THOSE AGED 60 ABOVE AS WELL AS THE DISABLED THROUGH COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING, RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY OR HOSTELS FOR SINGLE PERSONS.
"THOSE NOT WITHIN SWD'S PURVIEW WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR ADMISSION INTO THE SINGLETON HOSTELS SET UP BY CNTA, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
UPON ENACTMENT OF THE BILL, THERE WILL BE AN EXEMPTION PERIOD FOR BEDSPACE APARTMENTS SO THAT THEY CAN OPERATE UNDER A CERTIFICATE OP EXEMPTION WHILE CARRYING OUT THE I
IMPROVEMENT WORKS IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENCE.
THE
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE CNTA'S OFFICE OF LICENSING AUTHORITY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR INSPECTING THESE APARTMENTS AND ADVISING OPERATORS ON THE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENT WORKS.
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH REQUIREMENTS BE PROVIDED IN A CODE OF PRACTICE TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID AN APPEAL BOARD WILL BE SET UP TO DEAL APPEALS ARISING FROM THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LEGISLATION.
WILL
WITH
FOR
THE BOARD, HE SAID, WOULD COMPRISE A PANEL OF MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND WOULD BE CHAIRED BY A PERSON WHO IS QUALIFIED APPOINTMENT AS A DISTRICT JUDGE.
THE NEW LEGISLATION WILL ALSO EMPOWER THE DISTRICT COURT ΤΟ ORDER ANY BEDSPACE APARTMENT TO BE CLOSED IF THERE IS ANY DANGER TO OCCUPIERS OR IF THE CLOSURE IS NECESSARY TO ENABLE REMEDIAL WORKS TO
BE EXECUTED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE LICENSING SCHEME IS EXPECTED TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN 1994/95.
HE ADDED THAT THE BILL WILL BE GAZETTEÐ THIS FRIDAY (MAY 21).
ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:
THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR FRANCIS LO, WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA AT 3.30 PM TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE SESSION WILL BE HELD AT THE CNTA CONFERENCE ROOM, 30TH FLOOR, SOUTHORN CENTRE, 130 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI.
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