Page 170 of 194
304
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
In the review, the Board considered the need to restrict or, even to ban, the sale of liquor in this category of restaurant by, for example, restricting the hours in which liquor might be sold, permitting the sale of beer only or by banning the sale of liquor in premises in certain areas.
The Board, however, has decided that the existing policy is adequate. This policy permits the issue—or refusal of a liquor licence in accordance with the merits of each case following a public hearing in those cases in which an application is objected to. It also provides that liquor licensed premises conform to specified structural, fire-safety and hygiene standards.
This policy enables the Board to discharge its statutory duties in a manner in which public interest is protected and at the same time it is fair to the applicants. To cite two examples, the Board has recently met to discuss two applications:-
(1) one application was made in respect of a licensed fast food shop in a private housing estate in Yau Tong; objections were raised by nearby residents; Board members heard both sides of the case in a public session of the Liquor Licensing Board, made a joint inspection on site and after careful consideration, refused the application.
(2) the other application was in respect of a licensed fast food shop in a commercial building in Mong Kok; an occupier of an upper floor who intended to open a computer school objected; after taking into consideration the views of the Police and the District Officer concerned, the Board granted the licence despite the objection. I might say that the objector failed to turn up at the public hearing.
Mr. Chairman, I wish to inform members that the Liquor Licensing Board reviews its licence fees annually. The Board has recently decided that there should be no increase in fees for liquor licences for 1984-85—a recent cost review has established that the expected revenue is just sufficient to cover the costs of administering the licensing system.
MOTIONS
1. DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:
'RESOLVED that the Commercial Bathhouses (Amendment) By-laws 1984 be made under section 35 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
He said (in English): Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, I rise to move the motion standing in my name:-
'RESOLVED that the Commercial Bathhouses (Amendment) By-laws 1984 be made under section 35 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
305
The Commercial Bathhouses (Amendment) By-laws, 1984 now before the Council when adopted, will serve to delete the mandatory requirement for workers in commercial bathhouses to be vaccinated against smallpox. This requirement was introduced when the disease was a potential threat to public health. Since there has been no occurrence of this disease in Hong Kong over the four decades and also in view of its eradication world-wide, the statutory requirement of compulsory smallpox vaccination can now be deleted. Mr. Chairman, I beg to move.
Mr. H. M. G. FORSGATE seconded (in English): Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
2. MR. KENNETH T. C. LO, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:
RESOLVED that the Pleasure Grounds (Amendment) By-laws 1984 be made under section 109 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.
He said (in English): Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, I rise on the motion standing in my name:
RESOLVED that the Pleasure Grounds (Amendment) By-laws 1984 be made under section 109 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.
The purpose of the amendment By-laws is to increase from 1 April 1984 fees for the use of hard-surface tennis courts, squash courts and bowling greens at public pleasure grounds. The present fees for hard-surface tennis courts, squash courts and bowling greens were introduced on 1 April 1983. It is now necessary to raise the fees to take account of increases in maintenance and operational costs.
Sir, I beg to move.
MR. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE seconded (in English): Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
Page 170
Page 171
Page 171 of 194
Page 170 of 194
304
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
In the review, the Board considered the need to restrict or, even to ban. the sale of liquor in this category of restaurant by, for example, restricting the hours in which liquor might be sold, permitting the sale of beer only or by banning the
sale of liquor in premises in certain areas.
The Board, however, has decided that the existing policy is adequate. This policy permits the issue-
or refusal of a liquor licence in accordance with the merits of each case following a public hearing in those cases in which at application is objected to. It also provides that liquor licensed premises conform to specified structural, fire-safety and hygiene standards.
must
This policy enables the Board to discharge its statutory duties in a manner in which public interest is protected and at the same time it is fair to the applicants. To cite two examples, the Board has recently met to discuss two applications:-
(1) one application was made in respect of a licensed fast food shop in a private housing estate in Yau Tong; objections were raised by nearby residents; Board members heard both sides of the case in a public session of the Liquor Licensing Board, made a joint inspection on site and after careful consideration, refused the application.
(2) the other application was in respect of a licensed fast food shop in a commercial building in Mong Kok; an occupier of an upper floor who intended to open a computer school objected; after taking into consideration the views of the Police and the District Officer concerned. the Board granted the licence despite the objection. I might say that the objector failed to turn up at the public hearing.
Mr. Chairman, I wish to inform members that the Liquor Licensing Board reviews its licence fees annually. The Board has recently decided that there should be no increase in fees for liquor licences for 1984-85-a recent cost review has established that the expected revenue is just sufficient to cover the costs of administering the licensing system.
MOTIONS
1. DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion: ----
'RESOLVED that the Commercial Bathhouses (Amendment) By-laws 1984 be made under section 35 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
He said (in English): Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, I rise to move the motion standing in my name:-
'RESOLVED that the Commercial Bathhouses (Amendment) By-laws 1984 be made under section 35 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 170 of 194
305
The Commercial Bathhouses (Amendment) By-laws, 1984 now before the Council when adopted, will serve to delete the mandatory requirement for workers in commercial bathhouses to be vaccinated against smallpox. This
requirement
alth.
past
was introduced when the disease was a potential threat to public
Since there has been no occurrence of this disease in Hong Kong over the four decades and also in view of its eradication world-wide, the statu- ory requirement of compulsory smallpox vaccination can now be deleted. Mr. Chairman, I beg to move.
Mr. H. M. G. FORSGATE seconded (in English):---Mr. Chairman, I second the
motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
2 MR. KENNETH T. C. LO, CHAIRMAN OF the Recreation Select Committee, moved the following motion:-
RESOLVED that the Pleasure Grounds (Amendment) By-laws 1984 be made under section 109 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.
He said (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, I rise on the motion standing in my name:-
RESOLVED that the Pleasure Grounds (Amendment) By-laws 1984, be made under section 109 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132'.
The purpose of the amendment By-laws is to increase from 1 April 1984 fees for the use of hard-surface tennis courts, squash courts and bowling greens at public pleasure grounds. The present fees for hard-surface tennis courts, squash courts and bowling greens were introduced on 1 April 1983. It is now necessary to raise the fees to take account of increases in maintenance and operational
Cosis.
Sir, I beg to move.
MR. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE Seconded (in English):—Mr. Chairman, 1 second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
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Page 171 of 194
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