Graft buster finds municipal regulations outdated and obsolete

According to the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC), the organization has completed an investigation report on municipal ordinances and municipal regulations. The motive for the report came about earlier this year after an inspection of the Transport Bureau (DSAT), which was found to have been charging and imposing fines on those who allegedly violated regulations, despite the regulation having expired in June 2001.
The investigation prompted the CCAC to begin a preliminary study on the municipal ordinances and regulations that are still in force though are now outdated. This includes instances where regulations contradict the reality of the situation.
A further investigation was then issued, particularly to examine the issues on the Licensing Regulation on the Establishment for Retail of Meat, Seafood, Poultry and Vegetables, which stipulates that certain establishments can only sell one kind of good.
The CCAC found that this regulation does not meet the demands related to everyday life and is no longer being adopted. Regulations such as these were deemed to be too superficial and abstract, and are now considered insufficient to providing an efficacious system of inspection.
As a result of regulations such as these, the CCAC is now taking steps to revise out-
dated or obsolete regulations and provisions, and consequently is advising the DSAT and other bodies to do the same. The intended result, according to the CCAC is “to amend and perfect the provisions which do not fit in with the reality of everyday life but are still in force.”Staff Reporter