HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
101
MR. CHIANG SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-In fact, the motion referred to long, cumbersome procedures. On 1 December last year, we endorsed the practice of issuing provisional licences. Recently, I contacted a lot of people in the business and they indicated that many applicants were able to obtain provisional licences in 2 months. Even if the licences were for 6 months only, there would not be any problem because the liquor licences issued after that were also for 6 months.
I can tell the Chairman and Members where the crux of the problem lies. The Buildings Department is seriously understaffed. Through my contacts with applicants in the last few months, staff of BD told them to fit out their shop premises according to the plan and said they would return for inspection half a year later. What a joke! Half a year? Why does it take 6 months to vet a project for the second time? I think we have to face this staff shortage problem and urge the BD to deploy more staff for the work. As long as there is not enough staff to work, even if our motion is carried, there will be no use. In any case, when people in the trade apply for licences, they know that staff of the Council and USD do not delay things intentionally.
On the contrary, they say that USD staff are very cooperative and quick in arranging Health Inspectors to inspect the premises. The main problem lies in the lack of manpower in the BD and the frequent staff changes there. Say an officer listed 6 projects for corrective amendments, his successor may list 3 more, explaining that he has no idea how his predecessor reached his decision. As this officer says he is looking into 3 more irregularities, he follows up on them and the applicant has to wait another half year or 3 months.
When the BD solves its manpower problem, the situation will improve. At present, BD has few staff so that one person has to be responsible for the entire Kowloon area, another for the NT. There are just a few persons responsible. Last year, I went directly to BD's former Director Mrs Helen Yu to explain that several cases had to be dealt with at once. I learnt that these several cases were not delayed because of pressure from the senior level. For cases not under pressure, they have to take turns. This is unfair to investors because, after 2 months, police will check liquor licenses at unlicenced restaurants and prosecute the offenders. Anything that goes wrong will be taken up at the Liquor Licensing Board.
One can say that we are not helping applicants, but rather, sapping the confidence of investors ready to engage in a proper operation. Many people of the trade told me they had learnt the smart way by taking over old licences. They took over from people no longer interested in operating restaurants because transferring a licence took a shorter period of time and they would not be hindered by having to go through the Buildings Department procedure.
To sum up, Mr. Chairman, I feel we should set up a licensing group to send senior staff for attending meetings with the FSD and BD to discuss the staff shortage situation. I think this will help solve the problem directly or
Page 104 of 498
Page 104 of 498
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
101
MR. CHIANG SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-In fact, the motion referred to long, cumbersome procedures. On 1 December last year, we endorsed the practice of issuing provisional licences. Recently, I contacted a lot of people in the business and they indicated that many applicants were able to obtain provisional licences in 2 months. Even if the licences were for 6 months only, there would not be any problem because the liquor licences issued after that were also for 6 months.
I can tell the Chairman and Members where the crux of the problem lies. The Buildings Department is seriously understaffed. Through my contacts. with applicants in the last few months, staff of BD told them to fit out their shop premises according to the plan and said they would return for inspection half a year later. What a joke! Half a year? Why does it take 6 months to vet a project for the second time? I think we have to face this staff shortage problem and urge the BD to deploy more staff for the work. As long as there is not enough staff to work, even if our motion is carried, there will be no use. In any case, when people in the trade apply for licences, they know that staff of the Council and USD do not delay things intentionally.
On the contrary, they say that USD staff are very cooperative and quick in arranging Health Inspectors to inspect the premises. The main problem lies in the lack of manpower in the BD and the frequent staff changes there. Say an officer listed 6 projects for corrective amendments, his successor may list 3 more, explaining that he has no idea how his predecessor reached his decision. As this officer says he is looking into 3 more irregularities, he follows up on them and the applicant has to wait another half year or 3 months.
When the BD solves its manpower problem, the situation will improve. At present, BD has few staff so that one person has to be responsible for the entire Kowloon area, another for the NT. There are just a few persons responsible. Last year, I went directly to BD's former Director Mrs Helen Yu to explain that several cases had to be dealt with at once. I learnt that these several cases were not delayed because of pressure from the senior level. For cases not under pressure, they have to take turns. This is unfair to investors because, after 2 months, police will check liquor licenses at unlicenced restaurants and prosecute the offenders. Anything that goes wrong will be taken up at the Liquor Licensing Board.
One can say that we are not helping applicants, but rather, sapping the confidence of investors ready to engage in a proper operation. Many people of the trade told me they had learnt the smart way by taking over old licences. They took over from people no longer interested in operating restaurants because transferring a licence took a shorter period of time and they would not be hindered by having to go through the Buildings Department procedure.
To sum up, Mr. Chairman, I feel we should set up a licensing group to send senior staff for attending meetings with the FSD and BD to discuss the staff shortage situation. I think this will help solve the problem directly or
Pac
Page 104 of 498
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