Restaurant owners are to be trusted to supply accurate information on building safety, rather than have their premises checked, it was announced yesterday. The Buildings Department is slashing inspections to cut licence approval time from four months to 30 days. It is to scrap follow-up checks on repairs after initial inspections. Verification will be supplied by registered building engineers hired by owners. Director of Buildings Dr Choi Yu-leuk said this meant trusting the owners and engineers. But he said random checks would be carried out. He said: 'We feel confident that professionals in the construction industry are approaching the maturity suitable for self-regulation. 'But we are not placing blind trust in them. We will carry out random checks to make sure the requirements are being met. A review of the procedures will also be conducted in six months.' He added: 'They have a duty to abide by current professional ethics.' The Urban Services and Regional Services departments receive 300 first-time and re-submitted applications for restaurant licences every month. They cannot be issued until Fire Services Department and Buildings Department regulations are met.
