MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Report of the Meeting of Executive Council.

Many of the matters on the Executive Council Agenda on the 23rd of November concerned individuals and cannot therefore form part of this broadcast. By the time of the broadcast, some other matters would have been dealt with in Legislative Council. So, this report will be fairly brief.

Under Matters Arising from last month's meeting, the Chief Executive reported on studies by the Public Works Department which might have an impact on the proposed one-way system for Stanley. Mid January is now likely to be the start of the initial period for that system.

Executive Council considered a paper proposing increases in the charges and fees in the Registrar General's section of the Justice Department. That paper was passed to Standing Finance Committee.

We then approved a number of proposed amendments to the Licencing Ordinance, in the light of consultation with the public. I do not think this broadcast is the proper way to disseminate these recommendations in detail. The paper which Executive Council considered is available for the general public and the amendments of the Ordinance will be brought to Legislative Council for debate. The measures include, however, provisions allowing people under the age of 18 to be present at the bar of licensed premises when they are being used for private occasions such as a wedding reception. And, it is proposed that people under the age of 18 should also be allowed to attend dances or other entertainment where a bar is operated, without, of course, being allowed to purchase or consume alcohol. Executive Council took the view that Licensees should take more care to avoid serving customers who are drunk and make a nuisance of themselves. We also agreed a proposal that the Licensing authority in future might be the Police Committee.

Executive Council then agreed to a proposal from the Attorney General that there should be a consultation exercise about the possible amendment of the Road Traffic Ordinance in relation to public service vehicles and taxis. We also agreed a recommendation that the Road Traffic Ordinance be amended to overcome the problem of administering the required breath test to someone who has a breathing difficulty. That would involve the taking of samples of