XN000022-1992-06-22 — Page 4

MONDAY, JUNE 22, 1992

HE SAID SOME MEMBERS WERE WORRIED THAT THE HOTEL INDUSTRY WOULD ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTIES IF THE GOVERNMENT WERE TO RIGIDLY ENFORCE THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.

THE OFFICE OF THE LICENSING AUTHORITY (OLA) HAD ALREADY WRITTEN TO ALL HOTELS LAST MONTH, GIVING A COMPREHENSIVE EXPLANATION ON HOW THE ORDINANCE WOULD ACTUALLY BE IMPLEMENTED, MR SUEN SAID.

HE SAID TWO MAIN FACTORS WOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT ENFORCING THE ORDINANCE.

WHEN

"ONE IS THE QUESTION OF TIMING. THE GOVERNMENT APPRECIATES HOTELS MAY NOT ALWAYS BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE REQUIRED IMPROVEMENT WORKS WITHIN THE NORMAL TWO-YEAR EXEMPTION PERIOD.

THAT

"SOMETIMES THE IMPROVEMENT WORKS NEED ΤΟ FIT IN WITH THE HOTEL'S ANNUAL MAINTENANCE PERIOD.

"THEREFORE, THE OLA IS WILLING TO DISCUSS WITH HOTEL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT TO WORK OUT A REASONABLE WORK SCHEDULE AND EXEMPTION PERIOD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF INDIVIDUAL HOTELS, MR SUEN SAID.

"I

AT THE SAME TIME, THE OLA NOTICED THAT SOME HOTEL PREMISES WERE COMPARATIVELY OLD AND MIGHT NOT MEET THE PRESENT FIRE PREVENTION AND STRUCTURAL SAFETY STANDARDS, HE SAID.

HOWEVER, THE OLA WAS PREPARED ΤΟ EXPLORE OTHER POSSIBLE OPTIONS, SUCH AS USING A SIMILAR FIRE PREVENTION SYSTEM OR MATERIALS, HE SAID.

NOTING THAT THE OLA WOULD KEEP IN TOUCH WITH PEOPLE IN THE TRADE, MR SUEN APPEALED FOR FULL CO-OPERATION FROM THE HOTEL AND GUESTHOUSE INDUSTRY TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ORDINANCE FOR THE SAKE OF PROTECTING THE LIFE AND PROPERTY OF THEIR GUESTS AND STAFF.

J

"THIS WILL HELP ENHANCE HONG KONG'S GOOD REPUTATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL TOURISM INDUSTRY," HE ADDED.

YEAR.

THE ORDINANCE WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN MAY LAST

HE SAID ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES WAS TO ENSURE THAT HOTELS AND SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENTS COMPLY WITH THE REQUIRED RELEVANT FIRE PREVENTION AND BUILDING STRUCTURAL SAFETY STANDARDS.

'ANOTHER OBJECTIVE IS ΤΟ ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT ΤΟ KEEP A REGISTER OF ALL SUCH ACCOMMODATIONS," HE ADDED.

THE SCOPE OF THE ORDINANCE COVERS GUESTHOUSES, APARTMENTS, MOTELS AND HOLIDAY FLATS.

HOTELS,

UNDER THE ORDINANCE, ALL HOTELS, GUESTHOUSES -AND SIMILAR ACCOMMODATIONS MUST OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION FROM THE OLA FOR THEIR BUSINESS. 80 FAR, SOME 2,000 CERTIFICATES HAVE BEEN ISSUED.

/THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS