The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has launched a public consultation for the administrative regulation that regulates hotels, restaurants and bars until August 31. Amongst the proposed changes, bars will not be permitted to be located in residential buildings.
However, the transitional arrangements stated in the draft did not mention the fate of the many existing bars already established in residential buildings and how they would be affected under the new rules.
The MGTO disclosed in the document that the move is in response to complaints by residents of the noise and disturbance caused by the night time business activities.
In addition, people at or below 16 years old will be prohibited from entering a bar, which is consistent with the current rules in karaoke lounges and game centres.
According to the authority, the administrative regulation was drafted to meet the “development needs of the tourism industry”.
The MGTO has proposed that all hotels will be rated as between one-star and five-stars, instead of “two-star to five-star hotels, tourist complexes or two-star and three-star apartments” as is stated in the current regulations.
The hotel ratings will also be required to be reviewed by a special committee every six years.
Moreover, there will only be two classes - ‘general’ or ‘luxury’ - for restaurants and bars.
Existing two-star and three-star apartments will automatically become one-star and two-star hotels without any applications after the new administrative regulation comes into effect, whereas existing first-class and second-class restaurants will also be automatically classified as “general restaurants”.
While MGTO will be responsible to monitor and issue licenses to hotels, ‘luxury restaurants’, ‘luxury bars’, and ‘general restaurants and bars’ situated inside hotels, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau will be the licensing authority for ‘general restaurants and bars’ outside of hotels.
On the other hand, the draft states that dance halls and karaoke lounges will no longer be an independent business. License holders of restaurants or bars can apply for an authorisation in order to establish a dance area or operate karaoke business inside their establishments.
According to the proposal, existing licensed dance halls/ballrooms will need to apply to be classified as restaurants, bars or dining establishments within one year after the new rules take effect.
Current karaoke lounges, which usually hold a bar license in order to sell alcoholic beverages, will also have to apply for the authorisation to continue the karaoke business within six months.
All licenses will be required to be renewed every two years.
Furthermore, the MGTO has proposed an increase in various fines. For example, a hotel operator without a business license could be fined between MOP 150,000 and MOP 200,000.
http://www.macaudailytimes.com.mo/
0 comments:
Post a Comment