XN000022-1993-03-03 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3,

1993

1.2

RESTAURANTS ARE LICENSED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL OR COUNCIL UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES WHICH FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ARE IMPOSED AS PART OF CONDITIONS.

THE REGIONAL ORDINANCE

IN

THE LICENSING

BUT CLUBS ARE LICENSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS UNDER THE CLUBS (SAFETY OF PREMISES) ORDINANCE IN THE INTERESTS OF FIRE AND BUILDING SAFETY.

ANY

MR SUEN SAID IF OBSTRUCTIONS ΤΟ FIRE ESCAPES OR IRREGULARITIES WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, EITHER THROUGH INSPECTIONS OR IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS, FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT ACTION OR PROSECUTION WOULD BE TAKEN, AS APPROPRIATE, UNDER THE FIRE SERVICES ORDINANCE.

AS FOR KARAOKES, MR SUEN SAID ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THAT THEY WERE NOT COMPLYING WITH REGULATIONS ON FIRE ESCAPES, THESE ESTABLISHMENTS HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE RELEVANT REGULATIONS BEFORE THEY CAN BE LICENSED.

FIRE

ON TRIAD ACTIVITIES, MR SUEN SAID IT WAS BELIEVED THAT TRIADS SOUGHT TO EXTORT MONEY FROM KARAOKE ESTABLISHMENTS IN RETURN FOR PROTECTION IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THEIR ACTIVITIES IN OTHER PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT.

IN 1991, THERE WERE SIX CASES INVOLVING OFFENCES OF UNLAWFUL SOCIETIES (MAINLY TRIAD SOCIETIES), TWO CASES OF PROCUREMENT OF WOMEN FOR IMMORAL PURPOSES, AND TWO MINOR DRUG OFFENCES IN KARAOKE ESTABLISHMENTS.

LAST YEAR, THERE WERE 23 CASES RELATING TO UNLAWFUL SOCIETIES ONE CASE ON PROCUREMENT OF WOMEN FOR IMMORAL PURPOSES, ONE CASE OF POSSESSION OF DRUGS FOR TRAFFICKING AND THREE MINOR DRUG CASES.

то TACKLE THESE PROBLEMS, THE POLICE HAVE DEPLOYED CONSIDERABLE MANPOWER TO MOUNT OPERATIONS AGAINST ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES IN THESE PLACES AND CLOSE LIAISON WAS MAINTAINED WITH THE OPERATORS OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS, MR SUEN SAID.

OUT

THAT

AS FOR NOISE EMANATED FROM KARAOKES, MR SUEN POINTED IF THIS CAUSED NUISANCE ΤΟ NEARBY RESIDENTS, STAFF OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT WOULD ADVISE AND WARN THE OPERATORS.

"IF NECESSARY, NOISE ABATEMENT NOTICES WILL BE OFFENDING ESTABLISHMENTS," HE SAID.

ISSUED ΤΟ THE

IN 1990, 1991 AND 1992, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

DEPARTMENT RECEIVED 88, 33 AND 27 SUCH NOISE COMPLAINTS RESPECTIVELY.

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