Page 597 of 606
$80
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
should, as I have just said, raise objections against the renewal through the relevant departments. Generally speaking, the Police or other government departments concerned would raise objections to the LLB on behalf of the residents. All the LLB members would attend the hearing to hear the opinions of all parties concerned to see whether such views are reasonable and legitimate before making an appropriate decision. For example, if the LLB expects the licensee to make improvements, it will grant a short term licence (for 3 to 6 months) to the licensee to observe whether any improvements are made. If there is no sign of improvement after the observation period, the LLB has the power to refuse the licensee's application for renewal of liquor licence. In this respect, the procedure for renewal is slightly different from that for the new issue of liquor licence. I hope Mr. SUEN would tell the residents in his district that they may lodge complaints with the relevant departments or with the LLB. The LLB will handle all the complaints properly.
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese): I have a further question regarding the reply given by the LLB Chairman. I am very much concerned about the renewal of liquor licence. The Chairman said that the public may lodge complaints with the relevant government departments against the renewal of liquor licences, but I think that there should be one single department to handle all the complaints for consideration as a whole. For the new issue of liquor licence, the HAD would consult local DB Members, but for the renewal cases, no consultation is made. As a DB Member, I often received complaints against the renewal of liquor licence, but I never saw such complaints being reflected to the relevant government departments and served as a reference in the renewal cases.
MR. SAN STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, as I have said, granting a new liquor licence and renewal of a liquor licence are two separate issues. For the new issue of liquor licence, the HAD will see if the residents living in the neighbourhood of the premises under application for a liquor licence have any comments on or objection to the application. This point is very clear. However, in the case of renewal of liquor licence, if no complaints are received, we will not waste the manpower to make any further consultation. As Mr. SUEN may be aware, we have issued thousands of liquor licences in the PUC Area. If consultation is made with the DB Members on every application of renewal of liquor licence, that means we have to consult the DB Members on applications from the same premises every now and then, say every year or once in a few months. Such an arrangement would be disturbing to them. According to our existing mechanism, if complaints or objections are received, the case will automatically be referred to the LLB without going to the HAD for consultation with the DB Members. When the residents have something to say, they can reflect their views directly to the DB Members or the Urban Councillors of their district. This is one channel through which they can express their views. The other departments concerned will also reflect the views they have collected to the LLB. This is another
Page 597 of 606
Page 597 of 606
Page 597 of 606
ge 597 of 606
$80
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
should, as I have just said, raise objections against the renewal through the relevant departments. Generally speaking, the Police or other government departments concerned would raise objections to the LLB on behalf of the residents. All the LLB members would attend the hearing to hear the opinions of all parties concerned to see whether such views are reasonable and legitimate before making an appropriate decision. For example, if the LLB expects the licensee to make improvements, it will grant a short term licence (for 3 to 6 months) to the licensec to observe whether any improvements are made. If there is no sign of improvement after the observation period, the LLB has the power to refuse the licensee's application for renewal of liquor licence. In this respect, the procedure for renewal is slightly different from that for the new issue of liquor licence. I hope Mr. SUEN would tell the residents in his district that they may lodge complaints with the relevant departments or with the LLB The LLB will handle all the complaints properly.
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-I have a further question regarding the reply given by the LLB Chairman. I am very much concerned about the renewal of liquor licence. The Chairman said that the public may lodge complaints with the relevant government departments against the renewal of liquor licences, but I think that there should be one single department to handle all the complaints for consideration as a whole. For the new issue of liquor licence, the HAD would consult local DB Members, but for the renewal cases, no consultation is made. As a DB Member, I often received complaints against the renewal of liquor licence, but I never saw such complaints being reflected to the relevant government departments and served as a reference in the renewal cases.
MR. SAN STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, as I have said, granting a new liquor licence and renewal of a liquor licence are two separate issues. For the new issue of liquor licence, the HAD will see if the residents living in the neighbourhood of the premises under application for a liquor licence have any comments on or objection to the application. This point is very clear. However, in the case of renewal of liquor licence, if no complaints are received, we will not waste the manpower to make any further consultation. As Mr. SUEN may be aware, we have issued thousands of liquor licences in the PUC Area. If consultation is made with the DB Members on every application of renewal of liquor licence, that means we have to consult the DB Members on applications from the same premises every now and then, say every year or once in a few months. Such an arrangement would be disturbing to them. According to our existing mechanism, if complaints or objections are received, the case will automatically be referred to the LLB without going to the HAD for consultation with the DB Members. When the residents have something to say, they can reflect their views directly to the DB Members or the Urban Councillors of their district. This is one channel through which they can express their views. The other departments concerned will also reflect the views they have collected to the LLB. This is another
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.