Hong Kong Ordinances

KARAOKE ESTABLISHMENTS ORDINANCE - SECT 3

Application, exemption and transitional

(1) This Ordinance shall not apply to any karaoke establishment-

   (a)  in premises where the karaoke activity is carried on in not more than
        3 rooms with an aggregate floor area of not more than 30 square
        metres;

   (b)  in concert halls, theatres, auditoria and community halls in respect
        of which a licence has been granted and is for the time being in force
        under section 4 of the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance ( Cap 
        172) or which are the subject of an order made under section 3A of
        that Ordinance that is for the time being in force; or

   (c)  exempted by an order of the licensing authority under subsection (2)
        that is for the time being in force.

(2) Where, for reasons connected with the situation, means of ingress or
egress, design (including the percentage of the area allocated for the karaoke
activity), construction or size of, or the equipment, installations or
facilities in, any karaoke establishment, the licensing  authority is
satisfied that the safety of persons using the karaoke  establishment will not
be adversely affected, he may by order in writing exempt the
karaoke establishment from the application of this Ordinance.

(3) An order under subsection (2) may-

   (a)  be made by reference to the type or description of a karaoke 
        establishment;

   (b)  be made by reference to or in respect of any person;

   (c)  be made subject to such conditions;

   (d)  be made subject to such geographical limitations;

   (e)  have effect for such period; or

   (f)  have such general, particular or partial application, as may be
        indicated in the order and, if made by reference to or in respect of
        any person, shall be served on the person by reference to or in
        respect of whom it is made.

(4) A person who immediately before the date of commencement of section 4 was
operating, keeping, managing or otherwise controlling a karaoke establishment
in any premises may continue to operate that karaoke  establishment without
having to comply with any of the conditions indicated in section 4(2)-

   (a)  during the period of 12 months beginning with that date; and

   (b)  if within that period application is made to the licensing  authority
        under section 5(1) for the grant of a permit or the issue of a licence
        in respect of that karaoke establishment, until that application is
        finally disposed of or withdrawn and, if the application is refused
        under section 5(2), for a further period of 12 months beginning with
        the date of the written order made under section 5(6).

(5) An application made to the licensing authority by virtue of subsection
(4)(b), shall be acknowledged by the licensing authority in such form and
manner as he may determine.