1989 — Page 92

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask whether the Chairman of the Culture Select Committee is aware that quite a number of years ago now when the railway station was pulled down and the Clock Tower was not pulled down by popular requests. I think that is something it should be taken into consideration when considering whether or not to declare the Clock Tower as a monument.

MR. LO KING-MAN (in English):--Well, I will merely thank the last speaker for reminding me of this particular information which I must confess I only vaguely recalled at that time. I was a member of the public, not a Councillor.

STATEMENTS

1.

MR. PETER C. K. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board, I wish to issue a stern warning to all liquor licence holders against overcharging their customers, a malpractice which would greatly jeopardise the reputation of Hong Kong as a popular tourist centre and which I am categorically stating would definitely risk suspension or even termination of their licences.

Some years ago, the problem was more widespread and the unscrupulous operators of a number of night clubs and bars in Tsim Sha Tsui which preyed on unsuspecting tourists had brought a black mark to the international image of Hong Kong as a result of adverse publicity in overseas newspapers, hampering the interest of would-be tourists.

Thanks to the co-operation of the Consumer Council and the Royal Hong Kong Police Force who had helped the Liquor Licensing Board in gathering full information of these unscrupulous and dishonest bar operations, the Board was able to launch a vigorous drive against rip-off bars, twelve of them, I think, and to put the situation under control.

Last month, a resurgence of such malpractice came to light when a night club in Tsim Sha Tsui applied for the renewal of its liquor licence and was objected by the Police because the night club was involved in as many as 14 complaints of overcharging/touting this year, with some cases accompanied by threats and assaults.

Most of the complainants were overseas tourists who were easy targets and were likely to have left the territory before a case could be brought to court. The latest complaint occurred on 23 October, involving a Thailand tourist, who after making a report to the police was subsequently refunded $5,000 by the night club.

The Liquor Licensing Board is at present unaware of other similar rip-off bars. Evidence has so far indicated that this club is an isolated case and is by no means the 'tip of the iceberg'. However, we welcome public co-operation in informing us of any such malpractice to their knowledge.

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The likely revival of such undesirable and ethically abhorrent practices have caused the Liquor Licensing Board some concern. In an attempt to nip the problem in the bud, the Board is encouraging the Police to bring any offenders to court and subsequently to the attention of the Board.

Nevertheless, I urge all liquor licensees to refrain from such unscrupulous and selfish act which will have a detrimental effect on the business of all licensed premises and on Hong Kong's reputation which has become so important in contributing to the stability and prosperity of our society.

2. MR. LO KING-MAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE SELECT COMMITTEE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the past week witnessed a sequence of events of particular significance to the Urban Council. On the 5th of November, His Excellency the Governor officiated at the handover ceremony for the Cultural Centre Auditorial Building by presenting to your goodself the largest key I ever saw. On the 8th of November, Their Royal Highnesses graced the occasion of the official opening of the Cultural Centre Auditorial Complex and that was an occasion very experienced by this Council and certainly also the citizens of Hong Kong.

The opening of the Cultural Centre marks the beginning of a new important era in the provision by the Urban Council of cultural activities and in the Council's support for the development of the arts. It also represents aspirations and hopes of nearly twenty years of other preparation and a full ten years of intense planning and hard work.

It is the Council's aim to maintain and develop this new Centre not only as Hong Kong's own premier cultural venue but more importantly as one of the outstanding centre of excellence in the world in harmony with Hong Kong's distinguished position, as a principal international city and renowned centre of business, finance, communication and transportation.

We do not only foresee that the Cultural Centre will bring together, as we have been experiencing in this month of excellent programme in celebration of the opening, the world's very best artists, we also expect that with the provision of the Cultural Centre, Hong Kong's own artists and artistic groups will find ample opportunity to continue their endeavours to provide excellent programmes for our enjoyment.

The Opening Festival 'International Celebration of the Arts' has so far undergone only one quarter of its programme and already we have received the highest praises that the visiting artists have all been unanimous in giving us not only in praising the acoustics of the halls, but also the excellent technical service and the facilities of the stages. But above all, human efforts count and in this connection, we have been assured by all the visiting and local artistic groups so far having performed in the Cultural Centre that the efficient organization and technical support given to them have been unprecedented in many cases in their previous experiences all over the world.

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