NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT OUTLETS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS

NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT OUTLETS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS

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(Enforcement of guidelines): **

27.

Dr Fatimah Lateef asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs where pubs, bars and night entertainment outlets are adjacent or co-located with residential premises, whether there can be greater enforcement of guidelines pertaining to ad hoc use of space outside the premise in al fresco style, spillover of noisy customers disturbing residents late into the night, and noise pollution which are beyond the allowed decibels, including implementation of the double door concept.

Column: 1435

Mr Wong Kan Seng: While Police regulates public entertainment outlets under the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act or "PEMA", regulating the use of space outside public entertainment outlets does not come under PEMA. It is under the purview of other Government agencies such as URA. For example, I understand that URA may grant permission for the use of space outside the public entertainment outlets in certain areas which are not adjacent to or co-located with residential premises. I am told that URA may terminate the temporary permission if the use causes disamenity to surrounding residents.

One of the objectives in regulating public entertainment outlets is to reduce noise disturbance from such outlets. Towards this end, Police imposes limits on sound levels in licensed entertainment outlets. In addition, operators have to close all doors and windows of their premises during operating hours.

When persistent noise nuisance complaints have been received and substantiated, Police is empowered under PEMA to impose additional licensing conditions on the operator, such as the two-door concept mentioned by Dr Fatimah, whereby two separate sets of doors are installed at entrances or exits of nightspots to reduce the sound levels emanating from these premises. Police has also imposed such a requirement on certain pub operators before they are granted licences to operate.