HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. L. H. KWAN (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, could I ask whether the liquor selling hours are limited in any one district and under what circumstances would we enforce extra conditions on the sale of liquor during certain hours of the day?
MR. PETER CHAN (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, all these cases and the conditions were imposed because of residents' objections. The district officer carried out a random survey among residents in the neighbouring buildings, and during our public hearing the residents would come along and lodge their objections and the licensee would put forward his views as well; then all members of the Liquor Licensing Board would retire and after a very thorough consideration would decide on the case. For the first two cases, it was decided that we would allow the sale of liquor until 2 a.m. and then when the licence was renewed there was a further objection and so the operating hours were reduced to 12 midnight, therefore, we have conducted open hearings and considered every case very thoroughly.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKING PARTY TO REVIEW HAWKER AND RELATED POLICIES
MRS. E. ELLIOTT TU (in English):- Mr. Chairman, as Chairperson of the Working Party to Review Hawker and Related Problems, I rise to make a public statement that I trust will clear the air concerning the much awaited Report of the Working Party.
First, the Report is presently being translated into Chinese, which is a job that must be done with great care so that there will be no confusion or ambiguity when it is finally made public.
Second, it is hoped that the translation work can be finished around the end of the month, and that the Report itself can then be printed and made public early in November.
Third, and I am sure that all those newspapers that have been printing various kinds of speculative reports about its contents will be keenly interested in this, it will initially be made public through the media at a Press Conference to be held as soon as possible after the Report is translated, printed, and physically with the Council.
Fourth, the Report does not contain any decisions; the Working Party did not decide that this should be done, or that should not be done. All it has done is to make recommendations--and I stress the word recommendations.
The Report is in fact what we have been saying all along, a consultative document, a document that will be taken to the District Boards and various other authorities for discussion and subsequent refinement as and when viable counter-suggestions emerge from this process of consultation.
Finally, may I give all hawkers, whether legal or illegal, through the press of course, the following special message:
The publication of the Report of the Working Party will not change your present situation. All existing policies and regulations will continue to remain in operation and will continue to be enforced by the General Duties Teams of the Urban Services Department.
Nothing in the situation of any hawker, legal or illegal, can change until the opinions of all interested parties have been received by the Working Party, have been considered, and where acceptable, taken into account, AND the resulting recommendations have been fully approved by the Urban Council and the Government.
Until then, the proposals put forward in the Report are just ideas for consideration. They will not necessarily be adopted, and unless and until they are, the status quo will continue.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN OF THE LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD
MR. CHAN CHI-Kwan, Peter (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board, I wish to thank the Consumer Council and the Police Force for their help and support in the Board's drive against rip-off bars which prey on unsuspecting tourists, particularly in Tsim Sha Tsui.
With the help of both of these authorities, the Liquor Licensing Board has been able to gather a great deal of information on the dishonest and ethically abhorrent practices of various bars and similar establishments.
Allow me to quote some figures which vividly illustrate how widespread the problem has become, and just how savagely these unscrupulous bar operators have gouged into the pockets of the unwary.
One particular establishment, apparently operating more as a discotheque than a bar, has been involved in six accusations of overcharging involving US$6,000 and HK$9,930; another establishment which operates as a club has been named in 11 complaints involving HK$32,068 plus US$700; another establishment which is simply a bar has been named in eight complaints of overcharging involving HK$21,753 plus US$400.
The worst offenders are nine bars and other establishments in Tsim Sha Tsui which have been named in a total of 85 complaints involving no less than HK$202,191.80 and US$8,100.
Thanks to the co-operation of the Consumer Council and the Police, the Liquor Licensing Board has full details of these complaints, and the establishments concerned.
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Page 62 of 195
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. L. H. KWAN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, could I ask whether the liquor selling hours are limited in any one district and under what circumstances would we enforce extra conditions on the sale of liquor during certain hours of the day?
MR. PETER CHAN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, all these cases and the conditions were imposed because of residents' objections. The district officer carried out a random survey among residents in the neighbouring buildings, and during our public hearing the residents would come along and lodge their objections and the licensee would put forward his views as well; then all members of the Liquor Licensing Board would retire and after a very thorough consideration would decide on the case. For the first two cases, it was decided that we would allow the sale of liquor until 2 a.m. and then when the licence was renewed there was a further objection and so the operating hours were reduced to 12 midnight, therefore, we have conducted open hearings and considered every case very thoroughly.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKING PARTY TO REVIEW HAWKER AND RELATED POLICIES
а
MRS. E. ELLIOTT TU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as Chairperson of the Working Party to Review Hawker and Related Problems, I rise to make public statement that I trust will clear the air concerning the much awaited Report of the Working Party.
First, the Report is presently being translated into Chinese, which is a job that must be done with great care so that there will be no confusion or ambiguity when it is finally made public.
Second, it is hoped that the translation work can be finished around the end of the month, and that the Report itself can then be printed and made public early in November.
Third and I am sure that all those newspapers that have been printing various kinds of speculative reports about its contents will be keenly interested in this it will initially be made public through the media at a Press Conference to be held as soon as possible after the Report is translated, printed and physically with the Council.
Fourth, the Report does not contain any decisions; the Working Party did not decide that this should be done, or that should not be done. All it has done is to make recommendations--and I stress the word recommendations.
The Report is in fact what we have been saying all along a consultative document.. a document that will be taken to the District Boards and various other authorities for discussion and subsequent refinement as and when viable counter-suggestions emerge from this process of consultation.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 62 of 195
95
Finally, may I give all hawkers, whether legal or illegal, through the press of
course, the following special message:
The publication of the Report of the Working Party will not change your present situation. All existing policies and regulations will continue to remain in operation and will continue to be enforced by the General Duties Teams of the Urban Services Department.
Nothing in the situation of any hawker, legal or illegal, can change until the opinions of all interested parties have been received by the Working Party, have been considered, and where acceptable, taken into account, AND the resulting recommendations have been fully approved by the Urban Council and the Government.
Until then, the proposals put forward in the Report are just ideas for consideration. They will not necessarily be adopted, and unless and until they are, the status quo will continue.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN OF THE LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD
MR. CHAN CHI-Kwan, Peter (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board I wish to thank the Consumer Council and the Police Force for their help and support in the Board's drive against rip-off bars which prey on unsuspecting tourists, particularly in Tsim Sha Tsui.
With the help of both of these authorities the Liquor Licensing Board has been able to gather a great deal of information on the dishonest and ethically abhorrent practices of various bars and similar establishments.
Allow me to quote some figures which vividly illustrate how widespread the problem has become, and just how savagely these unscrupulous bar operators have gouged into the pockets of the unwary.
One particular establishment, apparently operating more as a discotheque than a bar, has been involved in six accusations of overcharging involving US$6,000 and HK$9,930; another establishment which operates as a club has been named in 11 complaints involving HK$32,068 plus US$700; another establishment which is simply a bar has been named in eight complaints of overcharging involving HK$21,753 plus US$400.
The worst offenders are nine bars and other establishments in Tsim Sha Tsui which have been named in a total of 85 complaints involving no less than HK$202,191.80 and US$8,100.
Thanks to the co-operation of the Consumer Council and the Police, the Liquor Licensing Board has full details of these complaints, and the establishments concerned.
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