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there will be patrols in the morning and evening and no one has been found burning wax.
What about the response to the telephone hotline system? Please tell the public about it. If not, the legislation will be useless. I hope the Chairman of the Select Committee will conduct more high-profile publicity. I also want everyone to be informed of replies to my questions. Can you give me the telephone hotline number?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I do not have that information in hand.
MR. CHAN KWOK-LEUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, there are actually two parts to Section 23(A) of the amended legislation on wax burning. Violation of either part constitutes an offence.
The first part covers burning or melting wax. The second part covers pouring liquid on hot wax. It is obvious that the second part is an act of wax burning and it is hazardous to children playing in the vicinity. Maybe the first part is harder to define.
Will the Chairman of the Select Committee explain what kind of situations are considered wax burning or melting as covered in part one of the legislation? If, as put by Mr. WONG, someone bundles candles and lights them up, is it considered wax burning or melting? In a case that does not cause harm to anyone or their properties, will prosecution be taken?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese): I don't think it is appropriate for me to decide. I think much depends on what staff of the Department see during their park patrol. They can assess to see if an act is harmful to passers-by and people in the vicinity.
Mr. Albert Lai Wing-lin (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, after reading the reply document, I have begun to wonder if the Chairman of the Select Committee feels active publicity this year may lead to more people burning wax. The last part of the document discloses that staff of the Department will explain and advise and prosecution will be taken only if repeated advice is to no avail. One may not be discovered. Even if one is discovered, one may not be prosecuted. With so many indefinite possibilities ahead, maybe more people will get the impression that this is the last year for wax burning so that they take the last opportunity to do so? Are you concerned over this, Mr. WONG?
Mr. Ronnie Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese): Well, I think it depends on how you look at things. I feel publicity is necessary. As to how members of the public will look at the situation and whether they will see things as Mr. Lai fears, let us see what kind of effects will be achieved this year.
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there will be patrols in the morning and evening and no one has been found burning wax.
What about the response to the telephone hotline system? Please tell the public about it. If not, the legislation will be useless. I hope the Chairman of the Select Committee will conduct more high profile publicity. I also want everyone to be informed of replies to my questions. Can you give me the telephone hotline number?
MR. RONNIE Wong Man-CHIU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I do not have that information in hand.
MR. CHAN KWOK-LEUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, there are actually two parts to Section 23(A) of the amended legislation on wax burning. Violation of either part constitutes an offence.
The first part covers burning or melting wax. The second part covers pouring liquid on hot wax. It is obvious that the second part is an act of wax burning and it is hazardous to children playing in the vicinity. Maybe the first part is harder to define.
Will the Chairman of the Select Committee explain what kind of situations are considered wax burning or melting as covered in part one of the legislation? If, as put by Mr. WONG, someone bundles candles and lights them up, is it considered wax burning or melting? In a case that does not cause harm to anyone or their properties, will prosecution be taken?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese):-I don't think it is appropriate for me to decide. I think much depends on what staff of the Department see during their park patrol. They can assess to see if an act is harmful to passers- by and people in the vicinity.
Mr. Albert Lai Wing-lin (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, after reading the reply document, I have begun to wonder if the Chairman of the Select Committee feels active publicity this year may lead to more people burning wax. The last part of the document discloses that staff of the Department will explain and advise and prosecution will be taken only if repeated advice is to no avail. One may not be discovered. Even if one is discovered, one may not be prosecuted. With so many indefinite possibilities ahead, maybe more people will get the impression that this is the last year for wax burning so that they take the last opportunity to do so? Are you concerned over this, Mr. WONG?
Mr. Ronnie Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—Well, I think it depends on how you look at things. I feel publicity is necessary. As to how members of the public will look at the situation and whether they will see things as Mr. Lai fears, let us see what kind of effects will be achieved this year.
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