XN000022-1985-04-04 — Page 15

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THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985

THIS INCLUDED A MEETING ON DECEMBER 14 WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF A TENANTS' COMMITTEE TO HEAR THEIR REASONS FOR OBJECTING. IT WAS AFTER THIS THAT A SURVEY OF THE AREA IN WHICH THE BILLIARD SALOON WILL OPERATE WAS CONDUCTED.

+MR BARNES ALSO MADE VISITS AT NIGHT TO TSING YI ISLAND TO SEE FOR HIMSELF THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH THE SALOON WILL OPERATE.

+TO FURTHER ACQUAINT HIMSELF WITH THE USUAL CONDITIONS INSIDE BILLIARD SALOONS AND THE TYPE OF CLIENTELE THEY ATTRACT. MR BARNES VISITED A NUMBER OF TYPICAL BILLIARD SALOONS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HARBOUR. HE ALSO CONSULTED THE POLICE ABOUT THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME ASSOCIATED WITH BILLIARD SALOONS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT, ALTHOUGH INITIAL TESTS HAD SHOWN THAT THE SALOON'S AIR-CONDITIONING PLANT WOULD HAVE CREATED A NOISE NUISANCE, THE BILLIARD SALOON LICENCE APPLICANT HAD SINCE MADE ADJUSTMENTS AND THE NOISE LEVEL WAS NOW ACCEPTABLE.

IT HAS, IN FACT, FULFILLED ALL THE USUAL AND RELEVANT LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS.

+THE OVERHEAD SPRINKLER SYSTEM AND OTHER FIRE SERVICES INSTALLATIONS HAVE BEEN FOUND BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO BE SATISFACTORY. AND NOW THAT ALL REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN COMPLIED WITH, A LICENCE WILL BE ISSUED TO THE APPLICANT, + THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

SQUATTER CONTROL SQUADS REMAIN ON WATCH ****

THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S SQUATTER CONTROL SQUADS WILL REMAIN ON THE WATCH AGAINST ILLEGAL HUT-BUILDING AND CONVERSION ACTIVITIES OVER THE EASTER HOLIDAY.

+THEY WILL CONTINUE PATROLLING SQUATTER AREAS, PARTICULARLY THE BLACK-SPOTS, DURING THE FOUR-DAY HOLIDAY, SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT TODAY.

HE SAID ANY NEW SQUATTER STRUCTURES OR EXTENSIONS DISCOVERED WOULD BE DEMOLISHED AND THE PEOPLE INVOLVED WOULD BE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION.

+HOUSING STAFF WILL KEEP PARTICULAR WATCH ON ILLEGAL CONVERSION OF SURVEYED STRUCTURES OF WHICH THEY ALREADY HAVE FULL RECORDS ON THE DIMENSIONS AND USAGE.+

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