XN000022-1990-07-25 — Page 57

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1990

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT ALSO DISTRIBUTED INFORMATION LEAFLETS TO REGISTERED ELECTORS ON ALL CANDIDATES IN THEIR CONSTITUENCY AND PROVIDED GENERAL PUBLICITY ON ELECTIONS TO ENCOURAGE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

"HOWEVER, WE CONSIDER THAT IF A CANDIDATE WISHES TO SPEND MORE ON A CAMPAIGN BY WAY OF ADDITIONAL STAFF OR PRINTING OF PUBLICITY MATERIAL, THESE COSTS SHOULD BE MET BY THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES AND THOSE SUPPORTING THEM RATHER THAN FROM PUBLIC FUNDS," SIR DAVID SAID.

EXHAUST EMISSIONS FROM RESTAURANTS NOT SERIOUS

A TOTAL OF 33 CASES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT SMOKK EMISSIONS FROM RESTAURANTS AND FOOD PREMISES IN YAU TSIM DISTRICT WERE RECEIVED DURING THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND NEARLY ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN SETTLED BY ADVICE, INCLUDING ADVICE TO IMPROVE THE RESTAURANTS' EXHAUST SCRUBBING SYSTEM, OR ΤΟ REDIRECT THE EMISSION OUTLET TO ANOTHER LOCATION.

THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON LEUNG WAI-TUNG.

MR BARNES SAID IF OFFICIAL ADVICE WAS NOT FOLLOWED AND THE NUISANCE PERSISTED, ACTION MIGHT BE TAKEN BY WAY OF A NUISANCE ABATEMENT NOTICE UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE OR THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE.

"DURING THE LAST 12 MONTHS ONLY TWO SUCH NOTICES HAVE BREN ISSUED, ONE EACH FOR A RESTAURANT AND FOOD PREMISE, HE SAID.

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MR BARNES SAID THAT OF THE 33 COMPLAINTS, THREE WERE RECEIVED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, SEVEN BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, AND 23 BY THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND URBAN COUNCILLORS.

ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, NONE OF THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST RESTAURANTS HAD BEEN SERIOUS, MR BARNES SAID.

HE SAID THERE WERE 859 LICENSED RESTAURANTS, AND 312 OTHER LICENSED FOOD PREMISES WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

THE YAU TSIM DISTRICT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT AREA IN HONG KONG AND CLEARLY ITS RESTAURANTS WERE A CENTRAL OF ITS ATTRACTIVENESS TO TOURISTS AND ALSO OF THE PROSPERITY DISTRICT AS A WHOLE, HE ADDED.

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