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The following is issued on behalf of the Business Facilitation Advisory Committee Secretariat:
The Business Facilitation Advisory Committee held its 30th meeting today (November 30). The Development Bureau briefed the committee on the proposed Security of Payment Legislation for the Construction Industry. The committee noted that the bureau had started conducting a business impact assessment on the proposal.
The committee also reviewed the work of its three task forces. Some notable areas of progress/developments are:
(a) The Code of Practice for Holder of Wholesale Dealer Licence (CoP) has recently been endorsed by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board. The Wholesale and Retail Task Force (WRTF) appreciates that its suggestions to assist wholesalers, especially SMEs, to comply with the CoP have been taken on board, and suggests that the Government should conduct a review six months after the implementation of the CoP in order to iron out any teething problems;
(b) The Food and Health Bureau, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) have briefed the WRTF on the proposed regulation on edible fats and oils and recycling of waste cooking oils (WCO). The WRTF supports the regulatory proposals in principle for food safety purposes, but expresses reservations on the proposed certification requirement and individual safety standards. The WRTF urges the Government to assess and consider in detail the implications of the proposed regulation to the trades concerned before finalising the proposals;
(c) The FEHD and the EPD have also briefed the Food Business and Related Services Task Force (FRSTF) on the development of the proposed regulatory control on disposal of WCO from licensed food premises. The FRSTF considers that the proposal will have quite an impact on the current practice of the trade, and expresses concern on the Government's plan to impose the new licensing condition on the relevant food business licences in early 2016. Therefore, the FRSTF suggests a grace period of 12 months should be given for the trade to make preparations for the new requirements;
(d) The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and the Water Supplies Department have briefed the FRSTF on the requirements for proper installation and operation of fresh water cooling towers. The FRSTF suggests the Government should review and streamline the procedures of the Fresh Water Cooling Towers Scheme to assist the applicants to obtain the necessary approvals;
(e) The Home Affairs Bureau and the Home Affairs Department have updated the Task Force on Business Liaison Groups (BLGTF) on the development of the proposed exemption of family amusement centres and other places of entertainment with electronic dart machines from the Amusement Games Centres Ordinance. They will further communicate with the relevant trades and other stakeholders when taking forward the proposal; and
(f) The BLGTF welcomes the clarification made by the Buildings Department that hotels can request for time extension with justifications for carrying out prescribed inspection and repair works under the Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme, and that the department will take a flexible and pragmatic approach in considering the granting of extension.
The committee is pleased to note that Hong Kong remains one of the world's easiest places to do business, according to the World Bank's Doing Business 2016 Report released on October 28, 2015. The aggregate score of Hong Kong is up from 82.87 last year to 83.67 this year, signifying an improvement in the overall business environment.
The committee also appreciates the continuous efforts of the bureaux and departments in further enhancing their business licensing services under the "Be the Smart Regulator" Programme. Major progress is highlighted below:
(a) The Inland Revenue Department has allowed eligible small and medium-sized enterprise operators to submit online applications for exemption from business registration fees and levies. This measure significantly reduces the time for them to obtain the approval to two calendar days from 21 working days;
(b) Following a series of gradual relaxations in 2009 and 2011, the Trade and Industry Department has removed all the remaining controls under the Textiles Control System. This measure has further reduced the trade's administrative burden and compliance costs for textile imports and exports as well as the production of cut-and-sewn garments; and
(c) To avoid duplication of controls, the Communications Authority has removed five special conditions governing road opening works from the newly issued carrier licences and the existing licences which have been brought back for amendment.
Papers for the committee meeting will be available at www.gov.hk/en/business/supportenterprises/bf/advisory/index.htm for public access.
Ends/Monday, November 30, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:36
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