XN000022-1992-11-25 — Page 19

17

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1992

A SPECIALIST

CONSIDER THE ISSUES.

WAS

COMMITTEE UNDER THE ITDC HAS MET SIX TIMES TO

BUT

"THIS WORK HAD TAKEN LONGER THAN ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED, NECESSARY ΤΟ ENSURE THAT THE APPROACH ADOPTED IS SOUND AND PRACTICAL, MS YUB SAID.

H

MEASURES IN PLACE TO FIGHT RESTAURANT KITCHEN POLLUTION

MEASURES ARE IN HAND TO ELIMINATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION CAUSED BY VENTILATION SYSTEMS IN THE KITCHENS OF FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PEGGY LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN THE CASE OF NUISANCES SUCH AS THE EMISSION OF DUST PARTICLES OR EXCESSIVE HOT FUMES AND AN OBNOXIOUS SMELL, A NUISANCE NOTICE MIGHT BE SERVED ON THE LICENSEE OF A RESTAURANT UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE HIM TO ABATE THE NUISANCE WITHIN A SPECIFIED PERIOD, HE SAID.

IF THE LICENSEE FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE NOTICE HE IS LIABLE ΤΟ PROSECUTION AND, ON CONVICTION, A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5,000 AND A DAILY FINE OF $100, MR EASON SAID.

IN THE CASE OF AIR OR NOISE POLLUTION ASSOCIATED WITH KITCHENS IN FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT STAFF MIGHT SERVE ABATEMENT NOTICES UNDER THE AIR OR NOISE POLLUTION ORDINANCES AS APPROPRIATE, HE ADDED.

ON

FAILURE ΤΟ COMPLY WITH SUCH A NOTICE IS AN OFFENCE WHICH, CONVICTION, CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF $50,000 FOR A NOISE POLLUTION OFFENCE AND $5,000 FOR AN AIR POLLUTION OFFENCE, MR EASON SAID.

"FOR PERSISTENT OFFENDERS, THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS MAY CONSIDER SUSPENDING OR CANCELLING THEIR RESTAURANT LICENCE."

SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NOISE CONTROL ORDINANCE IN 1989, ONLY ONE NOTICE HAD BEEN SERVED ON A LICENSEE TO CURTAIL NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPERATION OF A DIESEL STOVE.

HE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS WERE CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO REDUCE THE NUISANCES CAUSED TO RESIDENTS BY VENTILATION SYSTEMS AND STOVES IN RESTAURANT KITCHENS AND REGULAR INSPECTION, CONSTANT MONITORING, AND EXPEDITIOUS RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS WOULD CONTINUE.

/18