1997 — Page 429

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 429 of 654

HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

425

The Ombudsman is currently conducting an investigation into the restaurant licensing system. It is hoped that better recommendations for improvement will soon be offered as a result. To enhance the efficiency in licensing, I suggest that a departmental licensing unit be set up by the Urban Services Department with specialized personnel seconded from the Buildings Department and the Fire Services Department. If we can pool together expertise from the three Departments to work under one roof, the efficiency in licensing will more likely be improved.

Mr. Chairman, when I talked about the bird flu incident and the work done by the Inter-departmental Coordinating Committee at this Council's last meeting, my comments were not directed against women and I did not mean to discriminate against them. Some people might have misunderstood me because of one remark I made why so many high-ranking officials were women. I only intended to point out two facts: firstly, the Inter-departmental Coordinating Committee's ability to handle emergency was poor and the way the incident was tackled had aroused public discontent; secondly, there were indeed many high-ranking female officials in the Committee. I did not mean to interrelate these 2 facts. If my comments have caused any misunderstanding, please accept my sincere apology. I have always respected women and certainly will not discriminate against them.

In dealing with unlicensed restaurants, despite the efforts we have made, the results are barely satisfactory. This is mainly because the operators are fully aware of the time needed to schedule for court hearings and the procedures involved in applying for Prohibition Order or Closure Order. Thus our measures do not have any deterrent effect. In order to reduce the large backlog of court cases, I suggest that the government might consider establishing a municipal court and appointing people with a sound knowledge of the municipal ordinances as judges to deal specifically with cases of municipal offences. This can certainly improve the present situation concerning the operation of restaurants without licences.

At present, we have introduced measures whereby attending courses on hygienic practices and the award of certificates at the completion of these courses are the prerequisite for the issue of licences. This is a very good arrangement. However, I earnestly hope that the Department can change its usual managerial method, namely monitoring, prosecution, penalty, and then prosecution and penalty again. We should make good use of the instruction courses prior to the issue of licence to foster a system of self-education and self-control. This method has long been implemented effectively by many organisations and in many places. Such method is actually management through 'cognition, evaluation and control'.

Firstly, enable food traders to have some basic knowledge on the application procedures for a licence, the legislative requirements, fire protection, safety and health.

Page 429 of 654

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Page 429 of 654 Page 429 of 654 HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL 425 The Ombudsman is currently conducting an investigation into the restaurant licensing system. It is hoped that better recommendations for improvement will soon be offered as a result. To enhance the efficiency in licensing, I suggest that a departmental licensing unit be set up by the Urban Services Department with specialized personnel seconded from the Buildings Department and the Fire Services Department. If we can pool together expertise from the three Departments to work under one roof, the efficiency in licensing will more likely be improved. Mr. Chairman, when I talked about the bird flu incident and the work done by the Inter-departmental Coordinating Committee at this Council's last meeting, my comments were not directed against women and I did not mean to discriminate against them. Some people might have misunderstood me because of one remark I made why so many high-ranking officials were women. I only intended to point out two facts: firstly, the Inter-departmental Coordinating Committee's ability to handle emergency was poor and the way the incident was tackled had aroused public discontent; secondly, there were indeed many high-ranking female officials in the Committee. I did not mean to interrelate these 2 facts. If my comments have caused any misunderstanding, please accept my sincere apology. I have always respected women and certainly will not discriminate against them. In dealing with unlicensed restaurants, despite the efforts we have made, the results are barely satisfactory. This is mainly because the operators are fully aware of the time needed to schedule for court hearings and the procedures involved in applying for Prohibition Order or Closure Order. Thus our measures do not have any deterrent effect. In order to reduce the large backlog of court cases, I suggest that the government might consider establishing a municipal court and appointing people with a sound knowledge of the municipal ordinances as judges to deal specifically with cases of municipal offences. This can certainly improve the present situation concerning the operation of restaurants without licences. At present, we have introduced measures whereby attending courses on hygienic practices and the award of certificates at the completion of these courses are the prerequisite for the issue of licences. This is a very good arrangement. However, I earnestly hope that the Department can change its usual managerial method, namely monitoring, prosecution, penalty, and then prosecution and penalty again. We should make good use of the instruction courses prior to the issue of licence to foster a system of self-education and self-control. This method has long been implemented effectively by many organisations and in many places. Such method is actually management through 'cognition, evaluation and control'. Firstly, enable food traders to have some basic knowledge on the application procedures for a licence, the legislative requirements, fire protection, safety and health. Page 429 of 654 Page 429 of 654

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Page 429 of 654 Page 429 of 654 HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL 425 The Ombudsman is currently conducting an investigation into the restaurant licensing system. It is hoped that better recommendations for improvement will soon be offered as a result. To enhance the efficiency in licensing. I suggest that a departmental licensing unit be set up by the Urban Services Department with specialized personnel seconded from the Buildings Department and the Fire Services Department. If we can pool together expertise from the three Departments to work under one roof, the efficiency in licensing will more likely be improved. Mr. Chairman, when I talked about the bird flu incident and the work done by the Inter-departmental Coordinating Committee at this Council's last meeting, my comments were not directed against women and I did not mean to discriminate against them. Some people might have misunderstood me because of one remark I made why so many high ranking officials were women. I only intended to point out two facts: firstly, the Inter-departmental Coordinating Committee's ability to handle emergency was poor and the way the incident was tackled had aroused public discontent; secondly, there were indeed many high ranking female officials in the Committee. I did not mean to interrelate these 2 facts. If my comments have caused any misunderstanding. please accept my sincere apology. I have always respected women and certainly will not discriminate against them. In dealing with unlicensed restaurants, despite the efforts we have made, the results are barely satisfactory. This is mainly because the operators are fully aware of the time needed to schedule for court hearings and the procedures involved in applying for Prohibition Order or Closure Order. Thus our measures do not have any deterrent effect. In order to reduce the large backlog of court cases, I suggest that the government might consider establishing a municipal court and appointing people with a sound knowledge of the municipal ordinances as judges to deal specifically with cases of municipal offences. This can certainly improve the present situation concerning the operation of restaurants without licences. At present, we have introduced measures whereby attending courses on hygienic practices and the award of certificates at the completion of these courses are the prerequisite for the issue of licences. This is a very good arrangement. However, I earnestly hope that the Department can change its usual managerial method, namely monitoring, prosecution, penalty, and then prosecution and penalty again. We should make good use of the instruction courses prior to the issue of licence to foster a system of self-education and self-control. This method has long been implemented effectively by many organisations and in many places. Such method is actually management Ithrough 'cognition, evaluation and control'. Firstly, enable food traders to have some basic knowledge on the application procedures for a licence, the legislative requirements, fire protection, safety and Thealth. Page 429 of 654 Page 429 of 654

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Page 429 of 654

HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

425

The Ombudsman is currently conducting an investigation into the restaurant licensing system. It is hoped that better recommendations for improvement will soon be offered as a result. To enhance the efficiency in licensing. I suggest that a departmental licensing unit be set up by the Urban Services Department with specialized personnel seconded from the Buildings Department and the Fire Services Department. If we can pool together expertise from the three Departments to work under one roof, the efficiency in licensing will more likely be improved.

Mr. Chairman, when I talked about the bird flu incident and the work done by the Inter-departmental Coordinating Committee at this Council's last meeting, my comments were not directed against women and I did not mean to discriminate against them. Some people might have misunderstood me because of one remark I made why so many high ranking officials were women. I only intended to point out two facts: firstly, the Inter-departmental Coordinating Committee's ability to handle emergency was poor and the way the incident was tackled had aroused public discontent; secondly, there were indeed many high ranking female officials in the Committee. I did not mean to interrelate these 2 facts. If my comments have caused any misunderstanding. please accept my sincere apology. I have always respected women and certainly will not discriminate against them.

Firstly, enable food traders to have some basic knowledge on the application procedures for a licence, the legislative requirements, fire protection, safety and Thealth.

1997 — Page 429

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