XN000022-1991-05-08 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1991

-

14

CONTROL OF KARAOKE ACTIVITIES BEING CONSIDERED

THE

THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOW LOOKING INTO

A LICENSING CONTROL OF KARAOKE ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON PETER LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.

PRACTICABILITY

OF

LICENSING TSAO,

SYSTEM,

TOLD THE

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS ELSIE TU,

KARAOKE CENTRES AT PRESENT, THERE WAS NO REQUIREMENT FOR SPECIFIC LICENCES FOR THEIR OPERATION.

MR

TO

TSAO SAID OBTAIN

ESTABLISHMENTS

MUNICIPAL

HOWEVER, AS MANY OF THEM WERE LOCATED WITHIN WHICH PROVIDED FOOD AND/OR LIQUOR FOR CONSUMPTION, OPERATORS WERE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A LICENCE UNDER THE SERVICES ORDINANCE.

PUBLIC

HEALTH

AND

SUCH A LICENCE, THEY ARB

SAFETY STRUCTURAL

CERTIFICATES

"AS A PRE-REQUISITE FOR OBTAINING

SAFETY REQUIRED TO OBTAIN FIRE

AND FROM THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES, HE SAID.

..

HE ALSO SAID AS SOME KARAOKE CENTRES WERE RUN AS CLUBS, THESE PREMISES WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE CLUBS (SAFETY OF PREMISES) BILL.

0

PRICING CONTROL ON PROPERTIES RULED OUT

THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTENTION TO EXERCISE PRICING CONTROL PROPERTIES BUT IS CURRENTLY ASSESSING EXISTING MEASURES TO SEE IF FURTHER ACTION IS REQUIRED TO REDUCE UNSCRUPULOUS TRADING IN THE PROPERTY MARKET, AND TO IMPROVE PRE-SALE ARRANGEMENTS.

THE

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, HON MARTIN LEWIS, SAID THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY ΤΟ A QUESTION RAISED BY THE HON DAVID CHEUNG CONCERNING THE RECENT INCREASE IN FLAT PRICES.

MR LEWIS NOTED THAT THE RECENT INCREASE IN THE PRICES OF FLATS APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A COMBINATION OF FACTORS, SUCH AS RENEWED INTEREST IN PURCHASES AFTER THE GULF WAR, RISING AFFLUENCE STIMULATING FURTHER DEMAND FOR BOTH FIRST-TIME HOME OWNERSHIP AND TRADE-UPS, LOWERING OF MORTGAGE INTEREST, AND GENERAL RELAXATION IN BANK LOANS.

OTHER FACTORS INCLUDED INCREASE IN THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION AND LABOUR, MARKETING STRATEGIES OF PROPERTY DEVELOPERS, AND AN EXPECTATION THAT PRICES MAY GO UP FURTHER.

MR LEWIS TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT WITH CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS IN MIND, A NUMBER OF MEASURES HAD BEEN TAKEN TO REDUCE UNSCRUPULOUS TRADING IN THE PROPERTY MARKET, AND TO IMPROVE PRE-SALE ARRANGEMENTS.

"THE ADMINISTRATION