XN000022-1982-03-19 — Page 12

FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1982

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A MORE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT, HONG KONG EXTERNAL TRADE+, WITH A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE MONTH'S IMPORTS, EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS, WILL BE PUBLISHED IN EARLY APRIL AND WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT HK$10 PER COPY.

ENQUIRIES CONCERNING SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THESE REPORTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT BASKERVILLE HOUSE, HONG KONG (TEL. NO. 5-214375).

FIRE SAFETY PLAN FOR FOOD PREMISES

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THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO LEGISLATE AGAINST OPERATORS WHO OPEN FOOD PREMISES FOR BUSINESS WITHOUT HAVING MET ALL FIRE SAFETY CONDITIONS.

THE PROPOSAL IS FOR OPERATORS TO OBTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT FIRST BEFORE THEY CAN BE GRANTED A FOOD BUSINESS LICENCE BY THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT AT PRESENT THE USD WOULD PROCEED WITH THE PROCESSING OF AN APPLICATION FOR A FOOD BUSINESS LICENCE IF THERE WAS NO OBJECTION IN PRINCIPLE BY OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BY THE DEPARTMENTS WERE SORTED OUT SEPARATELY BETWEEN THEM AND THE APPLICANT.

THIS COULD LEAD TO SITUATIONS WHERE FOOD BUSINESS OPERATORS WERE GIVEN A LICENCE BY THE USD BEFORE THEY HAD REMOVED ALL FIRE HAZARDS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

ALTHOUGH FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT NOTICES AND SUMMONSES CAN BE ISSUED AGAINST OFFENDERS THERE CAN BE A PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THE DEFICIENCIES ARE MADE GOOD AND THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC IS SAFEGUARDED, HE SAID.

UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 PUBLISHED IN THE GAZATTE TODAY, THE AUTHORITIES WILL BE EMPOWERED TO MAKE REGULATIONS TO REQUIRE PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN AGAINST FIRE IN FOOD BUSINESS PREMISES.

IF THE BILL IS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, REGULATIONS AND BY-LAWS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO REQUIRE APPLICANTS FOR FOOD BUSINESS LICENCES TO PROVE THAT THEY HAVE SATISFIED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES BEFORE THEY ARE GRANTED A FOOD BUSINESS LICENCE.

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