XN000022-1990-01-30 — Page 2

TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1990

1

EXCO APPROVES LICENSING SYSTEM FOR GUESTHOUSES

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE A PLAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION (CNTA) TO OPERATE A LICENSING SYSTEM FOR GUESTHOUSES.

UP BY A

LEGAL

THE PLAN WAS DRAWN

PLANNING COMMITTEE COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CNTA, THE SECURITY BRANCH, THE DEPARTMENT, THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE, THE FIRE SERVICES

DEPARTMENT AND THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION.

OUTLINING DETAILS OF THE PLAN AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (TUESDAY), THE ACTING REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR K.K. FUNG, SAID THE CNTA WOULD CONSULT THE RELEVANT ORGANISATIONS AND DISTRICT BOARDS ON THE COMMITTEE'S PROPOSALS BEFORE INTRODUCING RELEVANT LEGISLATION INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

PRIVATE

ORGANISATIONS TO BE CONSULTED WILL MAINLY BE THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON

BUILDING MANAGEMENT, THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION, THE HONG KONG HOTELS ASSOCIATION, THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG HOTEL OWNERS LTD. AND THE HONG KONG YOUTH HOSTELS ASSOCIATION.

AS THE VIEWS OF CERTAIN DISTRICT BOARDS, SUCH CHAI AND ISLANDS, WILL ALSO BE SOUGHT,

YAU

TSIM,

WAN

MARCH.

IT IS HOPED THAT CONSULTATION WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE

RND OF

MR FUNG SAID THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED LICENSING SYSTEM IN WAS TO ENSURE THAT GUESTHOUSES COMPLIED WITH EXISTING REQUIREMENTS

SAFETY AND RESPECT OF FIRE SAFETY, STRUCTURAL

HEALTH AND HYGIENE CONDITIONS UNDER THE RELEVANT ORDINANCES.

WHICH WOULD

THE SCOPE OF CONTROL WOULD INCLUDE ALL GUESTHOUSES PROVIDED TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION TO TOURISTS AND TRANSIENTS AND EXCLUDE ACCOMMODATION NORMALLY LET FOR PERIODS OF A MONTH OR MORE.

"THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING

FROM COMMITTEE WILL THEREFORE BE DRAWN MOSTLY

EXISTING LEGISLATION, INCLUDING THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE AND THE FIRE SERVICES ORDINANCE.

CLEAN AND PROVISIONS

A "GUESTHOUSES WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO BE KEPT IN HYGIENIC CONDITION AT ALL TIMES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE", HE SAID.

IN

MR FUNG ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 2.500 EXISTING ESTABLISHMENTS GUESTHOUSES WOULD FALL WITHIN THE MEANING OF A GUESTHOUSE. THESE WERE FOR BUDGET TOURISTS IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS; HOTELS; HOLIDAY FLATS, SUCH AS

ON CHEONG CHAU; GUESTHOUSES FOR HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS; LOW-RISE MOTELS AND YOUTH HOSTELS.

THOSE

PEOPLE LOCAL

IN

/HOWEVER, HE