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Following is a question by the Hon Ma Fung-kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr David Lan, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Questions:

A new administrative measure has been implemented since 1 August 1997 to allow an applicant for a Places of Public Entertainment (Cinema) Licence to apply for a at the same time, and the Applicant may obtain a valid licence within 10 days at the earliest to operate a cinema. Furthermore, legislative amendments are also planned to provide a legal basis for the new measure. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:

(a) the respective numbers of applications for provisional cinema licences received and approved since the implementation of the new measure, as well as the

number of such applications that are being processed;

(b) the number of prosecutions instituted against cinemas operating without licences since the implementation of the new measure, and the average amount of fines imposed on the convicted persons; and

(c) the planned timing for the introduction of the relevant bill?

Reply:

Before answering the specific questions raised by the Honourable Member, I wish to take the opportunity to clarify the current status of the provisional licensing system for cinemas. As yet, the Places of Public Entertainment (Cinema) Licence has not been introduced, pending legislative amendments to empower the licensing authority to issue provisional licences under the Places of Public Entertainment (PPE) Ordinance (Chapter 172). However, in the meantime, with a view to speeding up the licensing process, the two Municipal Services Departments (MSDs), after consultation with the Fire Services and the Buildings Departments, have streamlined the procedures for PPE licence applications. From 1 August 1997, new licensing procedures similar to those for restaurant licensing have been implemented. Both MSDs now pledge to issue a PPE licence within 7 working days of confirming compliance with all licensing requirements.

My replies to the specific questions raised by the Honourable Member are as follows -

(a) since 1 August 1997, the MSDs have received nine cinema licence applications (six in the urban area, of which one was subsequently withdrawn, and three in the New Territories) and issued two licences, one each in the urban area and the NT. With the exception of one very recent application, in the remaining five cases the applicants were all issued with Letters of Requirements within 8 weeks upon receipt of the applications;

(b) during the same period, 38 prosecutions have been taken against operators for running unlicensed cinemas. The average fine in each case has been about $31,000; and

(c) I plan to introduce legislation to put in place the provisional licensing system after reviewing licensing procedures for places of public entertainment later this year.

End/Wednesday, May 19, 1999

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