XN000022-1978-11-11 — Page 2

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1978

NEW REGULATIONS TO CLEAR WAY FOR MINI-CINEMAS

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THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO INTRODUCE A NEW SET OF REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE OPERATION OF PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT TO PERMIT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MINI-CINEMAS IN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS,

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THIS DECISION FOLLOWED STUDIES BY A WORKING GROUP COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY, THE ENVIRONMENT BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, FIRE SERVICES AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

THE WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDED THAT A CINEMA OR CINEMAS, WHETHER ON THE SAME LEVEL OR NOT, SHOULD BE PERMITTED IN A MULTI-STOREY BUILDING OF MIXED OCCUPANCY.

HOWEVER, IN THE INTERESTS OF SAFETY, VARIOUS LIMITATIONS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED. FOR EXAMPLE, CINEMAS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED IN A BUILDING WITH CERTAIN OTHER OCCUPANCIES SUCH AS A REPAIR GARAGE, PETROL STATION, GODOWN OR WAREHOUSE, FACTORY, SCHOOL OR CHILD CARE CENTRE, NOR WOULD THEY NORMALLY BE ALLOWED IN THE BASEMENT OF A COMPOSITE BUILDING.

FOR CINEMAS WITH TOTAL CAPACITY EXCEEDING 2,000, THE EXISTING REGULATIONS STILL APPLY.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT PENDING THE ENACTMENT OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, THE PROPOSALS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ON AN ADMINISTRATIVE BASIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES FOR CINEMAS PERMITTED IN COMPOSITE BUILDINGS+ AS ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IN JULY 1978.

WHERE A CONFLICT ARISES WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT REGULATIONS, THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS THEREOF SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A WRITTEN APPLICATION FOR

A MODIFICATION OR MODIFICATIONS AS PROVIDED FOR UNDER SECTION 168 OF THE REGULATIONS.

GOVERNMENT LABORATORY EXPANDING

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THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY IS EXPANDING ITS SERVICES ON A CONSIDERABLE SCALE TO MEET THE GROWING NEEDS OF OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

THE EXPANSION WHICH IS FORGING AHEAD ON ALL FRONTS INCLUDES A 25 PER CENT INCREASE IN STAFF, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SECTION, THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL OFFICE AND LABORATORY SPACE AND THE ACQUISITION OF MORE SOPHISTICATED SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT.

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INCREASE