XN000022-1988-12-14 — Page 36

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1988

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LICENSING AUTHORITY FOR GUESTHOUSES

LEGISLATION TO SET UP A LICENSING AUTHORITY FOR GUESTHOUSES WOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WITHIN THE CURRENT SESSION, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR DAVID LAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR LAN APPEALED ΤΟ GUEST HOUSE OPERATORS ΤΟ EXERCISE SELF-DISCIPLINE IN RESPECT OF THEIR OPERATIONS.

SPEAKING TO THE PRESS AFTER VISITING THREE GUESTHOUSES IN TSIM SHA TSUI AND HUNG HOM, MR LAN SAID THAT THE LICENSING AUTHORITY WOULD BE SET UP WITHIN THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WITH STAFF SECONDED FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS SÚCH AS FIRE SERVICES AND BUILDINGS AND LANDS.

AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL PLANNING COMMITTEE HAD BEEN SET UP UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE CNTA ΤΟ WORK OUT DETAILS OF A LICENSING SYSTEM FOR GUESTHOUSES.

"THE PLANNING COMMITTEE WILL HAVE COMPLETED ITS DELIBERATIONS BY JANUARY 1989. THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL THEN BE SOUGHT.

AS

"THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PRIVATE BUILDING MANAGEMENT, WELL AS THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND INTERESTED ORGANISATIONS, WILL BE CONSULTED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS, HE ADDED.

MR LAN SAID THAT ONE OF THE MAIN TASKS OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE WAS TO DEFINE THE PROPOSED LICENSING AUTHORITY'S SCOPE OF CONTROL.

"CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO INCLUDE HOTELS AND HOLIDAY BUNGALOWS ETC. I MUST STRESS THAT THE FINAL DECISION WILL REST WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WHEN A DETAILED SYSTEM IS SUBMITTED ΤΟ IT FOR APPROVAL, HE NOTED.

MR LAN POINTED OUT THAT MEANWHILE THE FIRE SERVICES HAD WAS TAKING INTERIM MEASURES IN RESPECT OF GUESTHOUSES.

DEPARTMENT

HE ADDED : "AT THE END OF LAST MONTH, THE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED ABOUT 520 GUESTHOUSES AND OTHER SIMILAR ACCOMMODATION.

"THE DEPARTMENT HAD ALSO ADVISED OPERATORS ΤΟ IMPROVE FIRE SAFETY MEASURES, SUCH AS PUTTING UP EXIT SIGNS, INSTALLING FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND SMOKE DETECTERS.

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DURING THE INSPECTION, 350 STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS AND 320 INTERNAL LAYOUT CHANGES WERE FOUND IN SUCH ESTABLISHMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN REFERRED ΤΟ THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE FOR FURTHER

INVESTIGATION.

MR LAN ALSO APPEALED то GUESTHOUSE OPERATORS TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE GUESTS STAYING IN THEIR PREMISES.

/HE SAID:

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