XN000022-1991-06-05 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1991

16

SHA OUTLINES CONTROL SCOPE OF CLUBS BILL

BILL, THE LEGISLATIVE

ALL CLUBS HAVING CLUB-HOUSES WILL COME UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE CERTIFICATION SCHEME OF THE CLUBS (SAFETY OF PREMISES) SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON PETER TSAO, TOLD COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE

READING OF THE OF ALL,

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE SECOND

WOULD, FIRST BILL, MR TSAO SAID, HOWEVER, THAT THIS SCHEME THE IMPLEMENTED AGAINST PROPRIETARY OR SHAM CLUBS.

THE

THESE ARE USUALLY A PURELY COMMERCIAL UNDERTAKING IN WHICH SO-CALLED MEMBERS ARE NO MORE THAN CUSTOMERS OF THE PROPRIETOR, HE SAID.

MR TSAO SAID THIS FORM OF CLUB WAS POPULAR WITH OPERATORS OF ORDER MAHJONG PARLOURS, BATING ESTABLISHMENTS, AND KARAOKE CENTRES IN TO AVOID LICENSING CONTROL UNDER OTHER ORDINANCES.

NOTING THAT NON-PROPRIETARY CLUBS WILL BE TEMPORARILY EXEMPT BE FROM THE CERTIFICATION SCHEME, MR TSAO SAID THEY WILL NONETHELESS REQUIRED

REGISTER WITH THE AUTHORITY FOR A FXEMPTION.

ΤΟ

CERTIFIACTE

OF

AND ADEQUATE PERIOD OF UPGRADE THEIR SAFETY COMPLIANCE WITH THE

HE ALSO EMPHASISED THAT A REASONABLE TIME WILL BE GIVEN TO EXISTING CLUB-HOUSES ΤΟ MEASURES AND TO REGULARISE ANY DEFICIENCY IN STATUTORY STANDARDS.

ANY AGGRIEVED CLUB OPERATOR, HE SATD, APPEAL BOARD.

AS

שיר

COULD APPEAL TO AN

KARAOKE CENTRES, MR TSAO SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONSIDERED THE PRACTICABILITY OF ENLARGING THE AMBIT OF THE BILL TO MAKE THESE AND OTHER CLUB-LIKE ESTABLISHMENTS, SUBJECT TO THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS OF THE CERTIFICATION SCHEME.

"HOWEVER, WE HAD TO DROP THIS PROPOSAL AFTER RECEIVING ADVICE FROM OUR COUNSEL THAT SUCH A PROPOSAL WOULD BE INADMISSIBLE UNDER STANDING ORDER 45 FOR EXCEEDING THE SCOPE OF THE BILL, HE EXPLAINED.

P

ADDING THAT OTHER OPTIONS WERE BEING EXPLORED, MR TSAO SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MONITOR THE EFFECT OF THIS BILL ON KARAOKE CENTRES BEFORE FIRMING UP A DECISION.

EARLIER, MR TSAO EXPLAINED THAT AT PRESENT, CLUBS WERE GENERALLY REGISTERED IN TWO WAYS.

"THEY MAY BE FORMED UNDER THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THIS ORDINANCE IS GIVEN TO TRADE UNIONS, CREDIT UNIONS, OWNERS' CORPORATION, AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES.

"CLUBS MAY ALSO BE FORMED UNDER THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE, THEY USUALLY TAKE THE FORM OF A COMPANY WITH LIABILITIES LIMITED BY MEMBERS' GUARANTEE," HE SAID.

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