XN000022-1993-03-24 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1993

LIQUOR LICENSING PROCEDURES UNDER REVIEW

BOTH THE URBAN SERVICES AND REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS ARE REVIEWING THEIR LIQUOR LICENSING PROCEDURES AND THE RELATED LEGISLATION TO SEE WHETHER THERE IS ROOM FOR STREAMLINING PROCEDURES THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL

SZE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY),

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SEPARATE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL REVIEW IS ALSO BEING CONDUCTED ON THE RESTAURANT LICENSING SYSTEM, HE SAID IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MARTIN BARROW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

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TO HELP THE PUBLIC IN APPLYING FOR LICENCES A BOOKLET ENTITLED GUIDE TO APPLICATION FOR GENERAL AND LIGHT REFRESHMENT RESTAURANT LICENCES" HAS BEEN PUBLISHED FOR DISTRIBUTION, AND SEMINARS ARE HELD TO EXPLAIN LICENSING PROCEDURES TO APPLICANTS.

MOREOVER, LICENSING CONFERENCES ARE HELD REGULARLY BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED TO RESOLVE DIFFICULT CASES, MR SZE SAID.

EXPLAINING THE PROCEDURES OF ISSUING A LIQUOR LICENCE, HE SAID THE MAIN AIMS OF THE LICENSING BOARDS UNDER THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS WERE TO ENSURE THAT PREMISES SO LICENSED WERE SUITABLE TO RECEIVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND WERE PROPERLY MANAGED AND CONTROLLED · SO THAT THE PUBLIC INTEREST WAS PROTECTED.

ONE OF THE WAYS OF DOING THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT THE PREMISES HAVE ALSO BEEN ISSUED WITH A RESTAURANT LICENCE, HE SAID.

"AS RESTAURANT LICENSING TAKES PULL, ACCOUNT OF THE STRUCTURAL, FIRE AND HEALTH SAFETY OF THE PREMISES, THE SUITABILITY OF THE PREMISES FOR A LIQUOR LICENCE IS THUS ALSO ENSURED.

"THESE PROCEDURES, HOWEVER, TAKE TIME AND SOMETIMES CAUSE DELAYS, PARTICULARLY IN CASES WHERE APPLICANTS REPEATEDLY FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS FOR A RESTAURANT LICENCE, HE ADDED.

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MR SZE SAID OTHER STEPS WERE ALSO TAKEN TO ENSURE THE PROPER MANAGEMENT OF THE PREMISES.

THESE INCLUDE REFERRING APPLICATIONS FOR NEW ISSUES OF LIQUOR LICENCES TO THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND THE RELEVANT DISTRICT OFFICERS FOR INVESTIGATION AND COMMENTS IN RESPECT OF THE SUITABILITY OF THE APPLICANT TO HOLD A LICENCE AND IN RESPECT OF PUBLIC OPINION ON THE APPLICATION RESPECTIVELY.

PUBLIC OPINION IS ALSO SOUGHT THROUGH ADVERTISEMENTS IN LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND THROUGH NOTICES POSTED IN THE BUILDING WHERE THE PREMISES UNDER APPLICATION ARE LOCATED.

THE SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT GENERALLY IT TOOK ABOUT THREE MONTHS FROM THE RECEIPT OF AN APPLICATION TO THE ISSUE OF A LICENCE IF THE CASE WAS UNCONTESTED.

/THE PROCESSING