Over the last few years, the growing popularity and the increasing number of upstairs bars, the encroachment of bar business onto otherwise undisturbed residential areas, and the invariably crowded environment in discotheques have given rise to a plethora of law enforcement concerns such as public safety, crime, nuisance to public and emergency management. Whilst frontline police officers are addressing these issues head-on and with the right resolve, adopting a multi-agency partnership approach to solving the many problems identified has always been the preferred option.

On the evening of November 29, the Police Licensing Office of Support Wing invited the full LLB, officials from the Food and Health Bureau, and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to go on a fact-finding trip to visit a number of upstairs bars and discotheques in Wan Chai, Central and Tsim Sha Tsui. Beginning with a brief presentation at the Wan Chai District Headquarters by respective divisional personnel on the general liquor licensing situation of the three areas, the "night-out" for the LLB and other officials also included exchanges of views with representatives of the Fire Services Department, Buildings Department and Environmental Protection Department on issues concerning fire safety, setting of patron capacity limit and handling of industrial noise complaints.

After such "field" visits and pre-visit dialogue, both the LLB and the various stakeholder departments and agencies had a better appreciation and understanding of the law enforcement issues they have to consider when processing liquor licence applications.

LLB members getting a briefing during their fact-finding evening "field trip"