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Second reading of PPE (Amendment) Bill
Following is a speech by the Secretary for Broadcasting, Culture and Sport, Mr Chau Tak-hay, in moving the second reading of the Places of Public Entertainment (Amendment) Bill 1997 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr President,
I move the Second Reading of the Places of Public Entertainment (Amendment) Bill 1997.
Under the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance and its subsidiary legislation, no person shall keep or use any places of public entertainment, including cinemas, without a licence. At present, the two Municipal Councils, which are the licensing authorities in their respective areas, have no power to order an unlicensed place of public entertainment to be closed.
In order to strengthen enforcement action against the continued illegal operation of unlicensed places of public entertainment, the Bill intends to empower the licensing authorities to apply to a magistrate for the grant of a Prohibition Order. This would prohibit the keeping or use of a place of public entertainment for all purposes or for any purposes specified in the Prohibition Order. If the Prohibition Order is breached, the licensing authority may apply to a magistrate for a Closure Order to close the unlicensed business.
Similar provisions already exist under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance in respect of unlicensed food premises.
Thank you, Mr President.
End