XN000022-1985-09-30 — Page 20

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1985

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ADVICE TO FOOD OPERATORS

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THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY URGED FOOD ESTABLISHMENT OPERATORS IN THE NON-URBAN AREA NOT TO START THEIR BUSINESS BEFORE THEY ARE ISSUED WITH A LICENCE.

THE ADVICE CAME AFTER A RECENT COURT CASE IN WHICH THE OPERATOR OF AN UNLICENSED RESTAURANT AT LOWER CHEUNG SHA VILLAGE ON LANTAU ISLAND WAS FINED $15 000 IN THE WESTERN MAGISTRACY FOR BREACHING AN INJUNCTION ORDER PROHIBITING HIS PREMISES FROM OPERATION.

UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE, ANYONE BREACHING A COURT ORDER WILL BE LIABLE TO A FINE OF $25 000 AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT. THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE RSD WOULD CONTINUE TO PROSECUTE UNLICENSED FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE NON- URBAN AREA.

PRIVATE CLEANSING SCHEME TO CONTINUE

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A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR WILL CONTINUE KEEPING THE SHAU KEI WAN SQUATTER AREA CLEAN FOR ONE MORE YEAR BEGINNING DECEMBER 1.

THE CLEANSING FIRM ASSUMED OPERATIONS THERE FROM THE URBAN COUNCIL IN DECEMBER 1984 ON THE INITIATIVE OF THE UC'S CLEAN HONG KONG COMMITTEE NOW THE KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN COMMITTEE.

AT THAT TIME THE UC MAINTAINED THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF CONTRACTING OUT WAS TO SAVE MONEY WHILE PROVIDING BETTER SERVICES.

ALMOST $1 MILLION WAS SAVED DURING THE FIRST YEAR AND AN ESTIMATED $1.1 MILLION WILL BE SAVED THIS YEAR.

THE UC'S EXPENSES IN THIS ENDEAVOR WILL, IN FACT, BE MORE THAN HALVED AS THE CONTRACTOR WILL BE PERFORMING A TASK FOR $900 000 THAT WOULD COST THE COUNCIL ABOUT $2 MILLION TO DO.

BUT BEFORE THE UC DECIDED TO RENEW THE CONTRACT, IT SOUGHT ASSURANCES FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS THAT STANDARDS OF CLEANLINESS UNDER THE COMPANY'S TENURE HAD BEEN ACCEPTABLE.

MEMBERS OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD AND THE SHAU KEI WAN HILLSIDE COMMITTEE WERE CONSULTED IN THIS REGARD AND ALL AGREED TO GO AHEAD WITH ANOTHER ONE-YEAR CONTRACT.

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