Tier 3: the applicant's AP/RSE to verify compliance to Buildings Department in cases involving of more serious concerns on building safety, for example, approval of plans for extensive alteration and additional works prior to licensing.
"Both the licensing authorities and the restaurant trade welcome and pledge strong support for the new systems. We aim to shorten the processing time eventually to 30 days, compared to about four months in the past year.
"If the new programme proves to be effective, we will consider how the approach can be applied to other licensing areas, such as cinemas or child-care centres," Dr Choi said.
Regarding the application for demolition work consent, Dr Choi said that a set of simplified procedures and requirements was adopted to shorten the time required for agreeing to the demolition proposals.
After consulting the building professions and the building industry, a new simplified system will be implemented on August 1, 1996.
"The improvement measures work by providing more standard design and guidelines for precautionary and protective measures to meet the safety assurance requirements.
"Practice notes have been issued to the building professionals to enable them to better plan their demolition works.
"We aim to shorten the required processing time eventually to 60 days, as compared to the existing time of about six months," he said.
Dr Choi pointed out that the Buildings Department was committed to continual review of the department's working practices regularly to cut the unnecessary red- tapes.
"We thrive to serve the public in a more business-friendly environment while providing a safe and healthy built environment to the community.
"The two new measures will not only help in the deployment of resources to other areas of services but also directly benefit the restaurant and business community, and the general public as a whole," he said.
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