FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1986
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NEW PROCEDURES TO SPEED UP RESTAURANT LICENSING PROCESS ***
THE URBAN COUNCIL'S FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE TODAY ENDORSED THE ADOPTION OF NEW PROCEDURES WHICH IT IS HOPED WILL GREATLY SPEED UP THE PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR RESTAURANT LICENCES.
THE NEW PROCEDURES, WHICH HAVE BEEN AGREED BY THE THREE DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE AND URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL BE PUT INTO FORCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON A TRIAL BASIS, AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE NECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS.
+UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM, THE THREE DEPARTMENTS WILL MEET REGULARLY TO REVIEW ANY APPLICATIONS WHICH ARE OUTSTANDING FOR MORE THAN THREE MONTHS,+ A COUNCIL SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
+THE AIM WILL BE TO HOLD THESE MEETINGS EVERY MONTH.
+APPLICANTS WILL ALSO BE INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETING IF AND WHEN ANY OF THE THREE DEPARTMENTS FEEL THAT THE PRESENCE OF THE APPLICANT WILL FACILITATE THE DISCUSSION AND/OR THE PROCESSING OF THE APPLICATION.
+IN ADDITION, THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS WILL ENABLE THE THREE DEPARTMENTS TO COLLECTIVELY EXAMINE THEIR OWN PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS IN THE LIGHT OF OPERATIONAL DIFFICULTIES AND PROBLEMS.+
THE SPOKESMAN WARNED, HOWEVER, THAT THESE NEW PROCEDURES WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY END THE BACKLOG OF APPLICATIONS.
+APPLICATIONS CAN ONLY BE APPROVED IF THE APPLICANT HAS COMPLIED WITH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE THREE DEPARTMENTS,+ HE SAID.
+CASE HISTORIES SHOW THAT THE MAIN REASON FOR LONG-DELAYED APPLICATIONS IS THAT APPLICANTS SIMPLY HAVE NOT MET ALL OF THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.
+THIS NEW PROCEDURE WILL NOT OFFER ANY CORNER-CUTTING' TO APPLICANTS THE SPEED WITH WHICH THEIR APPLICATIONS ARE DEALT WITH WILL, AS BEFORE, DEPEND MAINLY ON THEIR FULFILLING ALL REQUIREMENTS.+
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