1994 — Page 36

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

He said (in English):-As Chairman of the Public Health Select Committee, I rise to move the motion in my name.

The following amending bylaws, namely,

(i) the Commercial Bathhouses (Urban Council) (Amendment) Bylaw 1994;

(ii) the Food Business (Urban Council) (Amendment) Bylaw 1994; (iii) the Frozen Confections (Urban Council) (Amendment) Bylaw 1994; (iv) the Funeral Parlour (Urban Council) (Amendment) Bylaw 1994;

(v) the Milk (Urban Council) (Amendment) Bylaw 1994; (vi) the Offensive Trades (Urban Council) (Amendment) Bylaw 1994; (vii) the Swimming Pools (Urban Council) (Amendment) Bylaw 1994; (viii) the Undertakers of Burials (Urban Council) (Amendment) Bylaw 1994;

and

made under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132, now before the Council will, when adopted, establish new fees for licences and permits as set out in the draft Notices in respect of the following types of business:

(i) restaurants

(ii) other foods and drinks and

(iii) trades

The existing fees for these licences and permits were effected on 1 May 1993. All fees for licences are to be reviewed annually in order to recover deficits incurred upon administration in the licensing and control of these businesses.

These amendments have been carefully studied by Members of the Public Health Select Committee and the Standing Committee of the Whole Council, and I am satisfied that due weight has been given to all implications of the proposals.

Mr. Chairman, I beg to move.

MR. WONG SHUI-LAI, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.

The question was put.

The motion was carried unanimously.

(3) MR. SAN STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD, moved the follow motion:-

'RESOLVED that the Dutiable Commodities (Liquor Licences) (Specification of Fees) (Urban Council Area) Notice be made under section 6(5) of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, Cap. 109.'

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

He said (in Cantonese):-As Chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board, I rise to move the motion in my name.

As Chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board, I rise to move the motion in my name.

The Dutiable Commodities (Liquor Licences) (Specification of Fees) (Urban Council Area) Notice made under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, Cap. 109 now before the Council will, when adopted, establish new fees for liquor and club liquor licences as set out in the draft Notice.

The existing fees for liquor and club liquor licences were effected on 1 May 1993. Under the existing Council's policy, all fees for licences are reviewed annually in order to recover deficits incurred upon administration in the licensing and control of this business.

The increase has been carefully studied by Members of the Liquor Licensing Board and the Standing Committee of the Whole Council, and I am satisfied that due weight has been given to all implications of the proposal.

Mr. Chairman, I beg to move.

MISS CECILIA YEUNG LAI-YIN, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.

The question was put.

The motion was carried unanimously.

(4) MISS CHRISTINA TING YUK-CHEE moved the following motion:-

'RESOLVED that this Council urges the Government to review the 'self-financing' policy applicable to the management of the Hong Kong Stadium, so that the Management Company can maximise the use of the Stadium.'

She said (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, recently the Urban Council has become the focus of media coverage and has been under fire from the public and certain political parties. It is about the noise issue of the Hong Kong Stadium. I would like to thank first of all the Jockey Club for spending $800 million to re-develop this Stadium. I think the Jockey Club could not anticipate public criticism arising from the noise nuisance generated by concerts. According to the Jockey Club, it hopes that the redeveloped Stadium can hold soccer matches and sports activities mainly while the staging of concerts should just be the sideline activities. But since March this year, a lot of concerts have been held there. People in the neighbourhood have been disturbed by noise and there have been some traffic problems. This has greatly impaired the image of the UC. UC has been accused of flouting the law, undemocratic and not being transparent. So the credibility of the UC has been challenged and questioned. To the Council and to you, Mr. Chairman, I extend my utmost sympathy. As the management authority of the Hong Kong Stadium, the UC has a heavy burden. Our colleagues have compared the Stadium to a child of the Jockey Club and the UC.

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