XN000022-1978-04-18 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1978

ABOLITION OF LIQUOR LICENCES FOR RESTAURANTS PLANNED

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THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO ABOLISH LIQUOR LICENCES FOR RESTAURANTS, FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THIS EFFECT BY A WORKING GROUP SET UP IN 1975.

THE MOVE IS PART OF GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OF ELIMINATING LICENCES WHICH SERVE NO PRACTICAL PURPOSE AND ARE A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF CORRUPTION.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (TUESDAY) A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT RESTAURANTS WOULD NO LONGER NEED LICENCES TO SELL LIQUOR WHICH IS TO BE CONSUMED ON THE PREMISES.

HE SAID THE RESTAURANT LICENSING PROCEDURE IS ADEQUATE TO ENSURE. THAT STANDARDS OF HYGIENE AND STRUCTURAL AND FIRE SAFETY ARE MAINTAINED.·

THE SPOKESMAN SAID CLUBS SELLING LIQUOR FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISES WOULD STILL HAVE TO HAVE A LIQUOR LICENCE. HE SAID THIS WAS BECAUSE CLUBS DID NOT NEED TO BE REGISTERED AS RESTAURANTS AND,

IF THE LIQUOR LICENCE REQUIREMENTS WERE ABOLISHED THEY WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY FORM OF CONTROL. +THIS WOULD OPEN THE WAY TO ALL SORTS OF PREMISES OPENING AS CLUBS TO SELL LIQUOR,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+NEVERTHELESS, HE SAID, +ALTHOUGH THERE IS A CONTINUED NEED TO LICENSE CLUBS SELLING LIQUOR FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISES THE EXISTING LICENSING SYSTEM IS BOTH SOCIALLY AND ADMINISTRATIVE- LY REDUNDANT, THE CONTROL OF HYGIENE, STRUCTURAL SAFETY AND SUCH LIKE FOR SOCIAL PURPOSE IS ALREADY LARGELY COVERED BY OTHER ORDINANCES.+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE ABOLITION OF LIQUOR LICENSING WOULD NOT LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN DRUNKENNESS, WHICH IS RARE IN HONG KONG.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE ABOLITION OF LIQUOR LICENSING FOR RESTAURANTS WOULD NOT PERMIT WHOLESALE AND RETAIL SHOPS TO SELL LIQUOR FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISES. +THESE SHOPS ARE LICENSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS AND WILL STILL BE FORBIDDEN TO DO THIS,+ HE SAID.

NO DECISION HAS YET BEEN TAKEN AS TO THE DATE ON WHICH ABOLITION SHOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED. THIS DEPENDS ON WHEN THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION IS READY FOR PRESENTATION TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE WORKING GROUP WAS CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE URBAN COUNCIL. THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND THE POLICE. ITS REPORT WAS PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

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