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for the issue of a licence and their proposal for any adjustment of the fee?

MR. CHARLES C. C. SIN, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-

Mr. Chairman, this question concerns the procedure for the issue of liquor licences.

Taking parts (a), (b) and (c) of the question together, the answer is that the comparatively simple amendment to Regulation 20(3) of the Dutiable Commodities (Liquor) Regulations 1970, to permit the issue of liquor licences on a monthly, instead of the current quarterly, basis has not yet been effected because of the need to consult and obtain the agreement of other interested departments. All parties concerned have now agreed to the amendment and the Secretary for the Environment has given drafting approval. Drafting of the amendment is therefore in hand.

Members will appreciate that the Government has a very large legislative drafting programme, and although every effort will be made to obtain priority for this amendment, to guess at a reasonable enactment date would be improper, in that such a guess would pre-empt the decision of the Legislative Council on this matter. I much regret that I cannot be more definite on this, and can only add that I have pressed, and will continue to press, for the earliest possible enactment of this much needed aid towards streamlining our liquor licensing system.

As regards the suggestion that the liquor licensing procedure should be further simplified and publicized for the greater convenience of the public, I should like to report that the Food Hygiene Select Committee approved an overall revision of the liquor licensing procedure on 31st December last, and forwarded the proposed new procedure for the comments of the Police, Home Affairs, Buildings Ordinance and Marine Departments. The suggested new time limit of 14 clear days for receipt of comments from other departments has already been accepted by the Police, Home Affairs and Marine Departments. The Building Authority, however, requires much more notice, and has recommended that instead the existing procedure

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for dealing on a quarterly basis with bulk applications for liquor licences should be retained. This matter has yet to be reconsidered. Meanwhile, a procedural guide for obtaining a liquor licence is being compiled and, it is hoped, will be ready for printing and distribution to the public as soon as full agreement is reached between the various departments concerned.

As regards the last part of your question, a recent costing exercise has been completed regarding the cost to the Council of issuing one liquor licence but does not cover the cost to other departments which are involved. Recommendations on the fees for liquor licences will be made as part of an overall review of licence fees connected with food hygiene, currently in hand.

MR. PETER P. K. NG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, nine months ago, when Mr. SIN was standing here, replying to the similar questions, he said and I quote:

"All I can say is that the Liquor Licensing Board will press vigorously for it,"

and he went on to say,

"I should not think that a simple amendment would take a year." and it is almost a year now. Can Mr. SIN tell us how hard has he been pressing?

MR. CHARLES C. C. SIN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as I have said in my answer, I have pressed and will continue to press. (Laughter)

MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I think we have now obtained the almost exclusive services of a Principal Crown Counsel. Could he not do the necessary drafting? This is in respect of the third paragraph of the answer in particular.

MR. CHARLES C. C. SIN (in English):-I don't think, Mr. Chairman, that it is a question of difficulty in drafting as such. As I have said in my answer, it is the programme of drafting.

MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):-Mr. Chairman, could not such drafting be taken out of the Dutiable Commodities Regulations and be given to the Urban Council as Bylaws instead?

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