XN000022-1985-09-10 — Page 14

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1985

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LICENSING AUTHORITY ON BILLIARD SALOONS STRESSED

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THE URBAN COUNCIL IS THE ONLY LICENSING AUTHORITY IN RESPECT OF BILLIARD SALOONS IN THE URBAN AREAS, SAID DR DENNY HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE.

ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL'S OPEN MEETING TODAY, DR HUANG SAID IT WAS REPORTED IN THE NEWSPAPERS IN THE MIDDLE OF LAST MONTH THAT THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH WOULD ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO AMEND THE RELEVANT REGULATIONS TO REQUIRE ALL CLUBS WHICH OPERATE A BILLIARD SALOON TO APPLY FOR A LICENCE.

+THE PUBLIC ARE MUCH PUZZLED, NOT KNOWING WHICH OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LICENSING OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS, HE SAID.

+SOME EVEN SUSPECT THAT THE URBAN COUNCIL IS NOT DOING ITS JOB PROPERLY. THIS IS MOST UNFAIR.

+AS CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, I MUST SOLEMNLY DECLARE THAT THE URBAN COUNCIL IS THE ONLY LICENSING AUTHORITY IN RESPECT OF BILLIARD SALOONS IN URBAN AREAS. IT IS MUCH TO BE REGRETTED THAT AT A TIME WHEN GOVERNMENT IS PROMOTING THE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM, AN ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH HAS SEEN FIT TO INTERFERE IN THE FUNCTIONS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL HALF OF WHICH MEMBERSHIP ARE ELECTED BY POPULAR VOTE.+

HE EXPRESSED HOPES THAT THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH WILL NOT INTERFERE IN THE LEGITIMATE FUNCTIONS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL IN FUTURE.

DR HUANG SAID HIS COMMITTEE IS MUCH CONCERNED OVER A SURGE IN THE REGISTRATION OF CLUBS WHICH IN ESSENCE OPERATE MAINLY AS BILLIARD SALOONS IN RECENT YEARS.

THESE 'CLUBS' DO NOT HAVE TO APPLY FOR A LICENCE, NOR TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS LAID DOWN BY THE URBAN COUNCIL IN RESPECT OF BILLIARD SALOONS, SUCH AS THEY MAY NOT BE ESTABLISHED IN RESIDENTIAL PREMISES, BUSINESS HOURS MAY NOT BE EXTENDED BEYOND 2 A.M., AND THERE MUST BE CERTAIN FIRE SAFETY MEASURES, ETC.

AFTER RECEIPT OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE SITUATION BY A NUMBER OF BILLIARD SALOON LICENCEES IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR, DR HUANG SAID HE IMMEDIATELY ASKED THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO PREPARE THE NECESSARY PAPER FOR DISCUSSION.

/+THE DEPARTMENT