Cap 552 - PROVISION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES (REORGANIZATION) ORDINANCE 1
Chapter: 552 PROVISION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES
(REORGANIZATION) ORDINANCE
Gazette Number Version Date
Long title L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
An Ordinance to provide for the provision of municipal services by the Government; to repeal the Provisional
Regional Council Ordinance and the Provisional Urban Council Ordinance; to make incidental and supplemental
and connected provisions, including the vesting of property, rights and liabilities of the Provisional Regional
Council and the Provisional Urban Council in the Government and the transfer of their functions; to amend the
Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, the Municipal Services Appeals Boards Ordinance, the
Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance and to make consequential
and related amendments to enactments.
[1 January 2000] L.N. 320 of 1999
(Originally 78 of 1999)
Part: I PRELIMINARY L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
Section: 1 Short title L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
(1) This Ordinance may be cited as the Provision of Municipal Services (Reorganization) Ordinance.
(2) (Omitted as spent)
Section: 2 Interpretation L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires-
"appointed day" (指定日期) means the day appointed for the coming into operation of section 3;
"commencement date" (生效日期) means, in relation to-
(a) the transfer of a function, the date on which the transfer takes effect by the operation of this Ordinance;
(b) a repeal or amendment of an enactment by this Ordinance, the date on which the repeal or amendment
comes into operation;
"a Council" (市政局) means the Provisional Regional Council established under section 3 of the Provisional Regional
Council Ordinance (Cap 385) or the Provisional Urban Council established under section 3 of the Provisional
Urban Council Ordinance (Cap 101) and accordingly references to "the Councils" (兩局) are to be construed as
references to both those Councils;
"former authority" (前主管當局), in relation to a function which is transferred under this Ordinance, means the
person who immediately before the commencement date had the authority to exercise that function;
"function" (職能) includes a power and a duty;
"new authority" (新主管當局), in relation to a function which is transferred under this Ordinance, means the person
on whom that function is conferred by the operation of this Ordinance.
Part: II REPEAL OF PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL
ORDINANCE AND PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
ORDINANCE AND INCIDENTAL AND
SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS
L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
Cap 552 - PROVISION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES (REORGANIZATION) ORDINANCE 2
Section: 3 Repeal of Provisional Regional Council Ordinance and
Provisional Urban Council Ordinance
L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
The Provisional Regional Council Ordinance (Cap 385) and the Provisional Urban Council Ordinance (Cap 101)
and all subsidiary legislation made under those Ordinances are repealed.
Section: 4 Vesting of property, rights and liabilities of the Councils in
Government and saving of validity of their acts
L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
(1) All property, rights and liabilities of the Councils are vested in the Government as from the appointed day
by virtue of this subsection.
(2) Nothing in this Ordinance affects the validity of anything done by or in relation to a Council before the
appointed day.
(3) Anything which immediately before the appointed day is in the process of being done by or in relation to a
Council may be continued to the extent that it is consistent with this Ordinance and in accordance with the provisions
of this Ordinance.
Section: 5 Provisions incidental and supplemental to section 4 L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
(1) Any agreement, arrangement or contract made or entered into or transaction effected or other thing done by,
to or in relation to a Council which is in force or effective immediately before the appointed day or which is to take
effect on or after that day has effect as from that day as if made, entered into, effected or done by, to or in relation to
the Government to the extent that it is consistent with this Ordinance.
(2) Accordingly, references to a Council-
(a) in any agreement, arrangement or contract or in any deed, bond or instrument;
(b) in any process or other document issued, prepared or employed for the purpose of any proceeding
before a court, tribunal or similar body; and
(c) in any other document whatever (other than an enactment) relating to or affecting any property, right
or liability of a Council which vests in the Government under section 4,
are taken as from the appointed day as referring to the Government in whatever terms as may be appropriate in the
circumstances and to the extent that it is consistent with this Ordinance.
(3) The Government may be sued for the liabilities to which it is subject under section 4 and they may be
recovered from the Government.
(4) The Government may sue on, recover or enforce a chose in action vested in it under section 4 without
having to give notice of the transfer to a person bound by the chose in action.
(5) The record of property of a Council immediately before the appointed day that is in the form of an entry in
the books of a bank, company or other corporation is to be transferred in those books to the Government on the
request of the Government, by the bank, company or other corporation.
(6) The legal claims including present, future, actual and contingent claims by or against a Council, including
any accrued right of appeal, judicial and administrative proceedings instituted by or against a Council that existed
immediately before the appointed day do not abate by reason of the repeal under section 3. They may be continued or
enforced by or against the Government.
(7) The guarantees and indemnities given by a Council become and are the liability of the Government. The
guarantees and indemnities given to a Council become and are the property of the Government.
(8) Any delegation or authorization made by a Council under an Ordinance repealed under section 3, in force
immediately before the appointed day, is to continue in force to the extent that it is consistent with this Ordinance and
in so far as it is necessary to continue its effect after the appointed day.
Section: 6 Express saving of certain property of the Councils L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
Without limiting sections 4 and 5, the following as they existed immediately before the appointed day are
expressly saved and transferred from the Councils to the Government-
(a) land allocated to a Council by the Government for its use;
(b) insurance policies held by a Council;
Cap 552 - PROVISION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES (REORGANIZATION) ORDINANCE 3
(c) the benefit of trade marks, copyright and other intellectual property rights held by a Council;
(d) the right to collect fees and other charges, and rates under any statutory or contractual authority held
by a Council.
Part: III SPECIFIC PROVISIONS RELATING TO TRANSFER
OF FUNCTIONS AND CONSEQUENTIAL AND
RELATED AMENDMENTS
L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
Section: 7 Repeal, amendment and renaming of enactments L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
(1) An enactment mentioned in column 2 of Schedule 1 is to be known by the title specified opposite to it in
column 3 of that Schedule and accordingly the titles of subsidiary legislation made under the Public Health and
Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132) specified in that column 2 are repealed and the titles specified opposite to
them in that column 3 substituted therefor.
(2) The subsidiary legislation made under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132)
mentioned in column 2 of Schedule 2 are repealed.
(3) Any enactment mentioned in column 3 of Schedule 2 in relation to an enactment repealed under subsection
(2) applies to and in relation to matters to which the repealed enactment applied immediately before the repeal and is
taken to have replaced the repealed enactment.
(4) The Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132) and its subsidiary legislation are amended
to the extent and in the manner set out in Schedule 3.
(5) The Municipal Services Appeals Boards Ordinance (Cap 220) is amended to the extent and in the manner
set out in Schedule 4.
(6) The Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap 109) and its subsidiary legislation are amended to the extent
and in the manner set out in Schedule 5.
(7) The Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance (Cap 172) and its subsidiary legislation are amended to the
extent and in the manner set out in Schedule 6.
(8) The enactments mentioned in Schedule 7 are amended to the extent and in the manner set out in that
Schedule.
Section: 8 Savings and transitional provisions for matters arising
under section 7
L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
(1) Section 7 does not affect the validity of anything lawfully done by or in relation to a former authority before
the commencement date.
(2) The following applies without limiting the operation of subsection (1) and to the extent that it is consistent
with this Ordinance-
(a) anything which immediately before the commencement date is in the process of being done by or in
relation to a former authority, including in particular legal proceedings to which a former authority is a
party or which are instituted on behalf of a former authority, may be continued by or in relation to the
new authority;
(b) any right of appeal subsisting immediately before the commencement date against a former authority
may be exercised and enforced against the new authority in accordance with this Ordinance;
(c) if section 7 operates to substitute, in relation to a right of appeal, a new authority to hear and determine
the appeal-
(i) any right of appeal subsisting immediately before the commencement date is to be treated as a
right of appeal to the new authority under the provisions of the relevant enactment as amended
by this Ordinance;
(ii) any appeal pending immediately before the commencement date is to be treated and disposed of
as being an appeal to the new authority under the provisions of the relevant enactment as
amended by this Ordinance;
(d) if a provision under which a right of review was available immediately before the commencement date
is repealed by section 7 and a new remedy provided in its place under that section-
(i) any right of review subsisting immediately before that date may be exercised as a right to the
Cap 552 - PROVISION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES (REORGANIZATION) ORDINANCE 4
new remedy under the provisions of the relevant enactment as amended by this Ordinance;
(ii) any review pending immediately before the commencement date is to be terminated on that date
and the person to whom the right of review was available may exercise it as a right to the new
remedy under the provisions of the relevant enactment as amended by this Ordinance;
(e) any licence, permit, registration, permission, approval, authorization, delegation, exemption,
appointment, declaration, determination, designation, specification, notice, notification, prohibition,
direction or requirement, granted, given, made or imposed by a former authority or having effect as if
so granted, given, made or imposed, or a similar exercise of a power by or on behalf of the former
authority which is in force immediately before the commencement date or which is to take effect on or
after that date, has effect as if granted, given, made or imposed or done by the new authority in so far
as that is required for continuing its effect after that date;
(f) if section 7 operates to substitute a new provision for a provision under which a power referred to in
paragraph (e) has been exercised immediately before the commencement date, the power is taken to
have been exercised under the new provision; accordingly on and after that date a reference in any
enactment or document to the new provision in relation to the exercise of that power is to be construed
as including acts done under the former provision;
(g) if immediately before the commencement date there is in existence an application for a licence, permit,
registration, permission, approval, authorization or exemption or an application of a similar nature
made to a former authority which has not been disposed of, it is to be taken to be an application to the
new authority and is to be disposed of accordingly;
(h) any suspension of a licence or other permission in force immediately before the commencement date is
to continue in force for the remainder of the period of suspension as if this Ordinance had not been
enacted;
(i) documents or forms specified, prescribed, printed or duplicated for use in connection with any
functions transferred by this Ordinance, including any written authorization issued by or on behalf of a
former authority for the performance of a function and in force immediately before the commencement
date, may be so used despite the fact that they contain references to a former authority, or to a former
department, bureau or officer and those references shall be construed as references to the new
authority, or the new department, bureau or officer, as the case may require;
(j) any reference made before the commencement date to an enactment repealed or renamed under section
7 or to a former authority or person authorized by the former authority, in any document, form or
instrument, including any process or other document issued, prepared or employed for the purpose of
any proceeding before a court, tribunal or similar body, is to be construed as a reference to the
corresponding enactment (if any) or new authority or authorized person, as the case may require;
(k) except where it is expressly provided otherwise, section 7 is not to be construed as interrupting any
period of time specified in any enactment or a notice or any other instrument given under an enactment
and which is current on the commencement date and the period is to run as if that section had not been
enacted.
Section: 9 Saving of subsidiary legislation, fees, etc. L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
(1) Where this Ordinance operates to-
(a) transfer the power to make subsidiary legislation on any matter; or
(b) substitute a new provision for a provision under which subsidiary legislation may be made,
subsidiary legislation (including an enactment replaced under section 7(3)) made or deemed to be made by the former
authority in the exercise of that power or under that provision and in force immediately before the commencement
date continues to be in force subject to the amendments made by this Ordinance (if a new title is given by this
Ordinance to the subsidiary legislation, by that title), and to the extent that it is consistent with this Ordinance, as if
made by the new authority in the exercise of the power conferred on the new authority to make subsidiary legislation
on that matter or under that new provision, as the case may be, and may be amended, repealed or replaced by the new
authority or under that new provision.
(2) Where this Ordinance-
(a) operates to transfer the power to determine or prescribe fees or charges (by way of subsidiary
legislation or otherwise) for any matter; or
(b) substitutes a new provision for a provision under which the fees or charges in force immediately before
Cap 552 - PROVISION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES (REORGANIZATION) ORDINANCE 5
the commencement date were determined or prescribed,
the fees or charges in force immediately before that date continue to be in force as if-
(i) made by the new authority in the exercise of the power conferred on that authority; or
(ii) made under that new provision,
and may be varied, amended, revoked or replaced by the new authority or under that new provision.
(3) For the avoidance of doubt it is stated that the validity of a fee or charge continued in force under
subsection (2) as a prescribed fee is not affected by it not being in the required form, until it is varied, amended or
replaced by the new authority or under the new provision referred to in that subsection.
Part: IV GENERAL L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
Section: 10 Transitional provisions with respect to offences L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
(1) All proceedings in respect of offences committed or alleged to be committed against an enactment repealed
by this Ordinance (including an enactment mentioned in column 2 of Schedule 2), before the repeal came into effect,
may be commenced or continued as if this Ordinance had not been enacted.
(2) Where an offence, for the continuance of which a penalty was provided under any enactment repealed by
this Ordinance (including an enactment mentioned in column 2 of Schedule 2), proceedings may be commenced under
the enactment which corresponds to it, if any, in respect of the continuance of that offence in the same manner as if the
offence had been committed under the corresponding enactment.
Section: 11 Chief Executive in Council to make consequential,
transitional and savings provisions
L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
(1) The Chief Executive in Council may, by order published in the Gazette, make such consequential
amendments to any enactment or provisions of a transitional or savings nature as are necessary for the better carrying
out of the provisions of this Ordinance.
(2) An order under subsection (1) may be made before or after the appointed day and provide for any provision
of the order to take effect on a date earlier than the date of publication of the order but not earlier than the appointed
day.
(3) To the extent to which a provision in an order under this section takes effect on a date earlier than the date
of publication of the order, the provision does not operate so as-
(a) to affect, in a manner prejudicial to any person (other than the Government or a public body), the
rights of that person before the date of its publication; or
(b) to impose liabilities on a person (other than the Government or a public body) in respect of anything
done, or omitted to be done, before the date of its publication.
(4) An order under this section is subject to the approval of the Legislative Council.
Section: 12 Ordinance to be construed as continuing only valid and
lawful acts
L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
For the avoidance of doubt it is stated that nothing in this Ordinance is to be construed as giving validity,
continuing in force or giving effect to-
(a) anything which could not have validly been done or given effect to under an enactment amended or
repealed by this Ordinance; or
(b) anything done otherwise than in the lawful exercise of a power or performance of a duty.
Section: 13 Provisions of Ordinance not to derogate from section 23 of
Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance
L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
The provisions of this Ordinance relating to repeal and amendment of enactments are in addition to and not in
derogation from section 23 of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance (Cap 1).
Cap 552 - PROVISION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES (REORGANIZATION) ORDINANCE 6
Schedule: 1 SUBSTITUTION OF TITLES OF SUBSIDIARY
LEGISLATION
L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
[section 7]
Item Old title New title
1. Abattoirs (Urban Council) Bylaws Abattoirs Regulation
2. Advertisements By-laws Advertisements Regulation
3. Bathing Beach (Urban Council) By-laws Bathing Beaches Regulation
4. Civic Centres (Regional Council) By-laws Civic Centres Regulation
5. Commercial Bathhouses (Urban Council) Commercial Bathhouses Regulation
By-laws
6. Cremation and Gardens of Remembrance Cremation and Gardens of
(Urban Council) By-laws Remembrance Regulation
7. Designation of Libraries (Urban Council Designation of Libraries Order
Area) Order
8. Food Business (Regional Council) Food Business Regulation
By-laws
9. Food Business (Regional Council) Bylaws Food Business Regulation
(Exemption from Bylaw 31(1)) (Exemption from section 31(1))
(Consolidation) Notice Notice
10. Frozen Confections (Urban Council) Frozen Confections Regulation
By-laws
11. Funeral Parlour (Regional Council) Funeral Parlours Regulation
By-laws
12. Hawker (Permitted Place) (Urban Hawker (Permitted Places)
Council) (Consolidation) Declaration Declaration
13. Hawker (Urban Council) By-laws Hawker Regulation
14. Library (Regional Council) By-laws Libraries Regulation
15. Declaration of Markets in the Regional Declaration of Markets Notice
Council Area
16. Milk (Urban Council) Bylaws Milk Regulation
17. Museums (Regional Council) By-laws Museums Regulation
18. Declaration of Offensive Trades in the Declaration of Offensive Trades
Regional Council Area Notice
19. Offensive Trades (Regional Council) Offensive Trades Regulation
By-laws
20. Places of Amusement (Urban Council) Places of Amusement Regulation
Bylaws
21. Pleasure Grounds (Urban Council) Pleasure Grounds Regulation
Bylaws
22. Private Cemeteries (Urban Council) Private Cemeteries Regulation
By-laws
23. Private Markets (Regional Council) Private Markets Regulation
By-laws
24. Public Cemeteries (Urban Council) Public Cemeteries Regulation
By-laws
25. Public Cleansing and Prevention of Public Cleansing and Prevention of
Nuisances (Urban Council) By-laws Nuisances Regulation
26. Public Conveniences (Conduct and Public Conveniences (Conduct and
Behaviour) (Urban Council) By-laws Behaviour) Regulation
27. Public Funeral Hall (Urban Council) Public Funeral Halls Regulation
By-laws
28. Public Market (Regional Council) Public Markets Regulation
Cap 552 - PROVISION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES (REORGANIZATION) ORDINANCE 7
By-laws
29. Public Swimming Pools (Urban Council) Public Swimming Pools Regulation
By-laws
30. Restriction of Hawking in Special Areas Restriction of Hawking in Special
(Regional Council Area) Areas Notification
(Consolidation) Notification
31. Sanitation and Conservancy (Regional Sanitation and Conservancy
Council) By-laws Regulation
32. Slaughterhouses (Regional Council) Slaughterhouses Regulation
Bylaws
33. Stadia (Urban Council) By-laws Stadia Regulation
34. Swimming Pools (Urban Council) Swimming Pools Regulation
Bylaws
35. Undertakers of Burials (Regional Undertakers of Burials Regulation
Council) By-laws
36. Ventilation of Scheduled Premises (Urban Ventilation of Scheduled Premises
Council) By-laws Regulation
Schedule: 2 REPEALS AND REPLACEMENT L.N. 320 of 1999 01/01/2000
[sections 7 & 10]
Item Enactment Replacement
1. Basements (Urban Council) By-laws
2. Bathing Beach (Regional Council) Bathing Beaches Regulation
By-laws
3. Civic Centres (Urban Council) By-laws Civic Centres Regulation
4. Conservancy (Urban Council) By-laws Sanitation and Conservancy
Regulation
5. Cremation and Gardens of Remembrance Cremation and Gardens of
(Regional Council) By-laws Remembrance Regulation
6. Designation of Libraries (Regional Designation of Libraries Order
Council Area) Order
7. Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws Food Business Regulation
8. Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws Food Business Regulation
(Exemption from By-law 32(1)) (Exemption from section 31(1))
(Consolidation) Notice Notice
9. Frozen Confections (Regional Council) Frozen Confections Regulation
By-laws
10. Funeral Parlour (Urban Council) Funeral Parlours Regulation
By-laws
11. Hawker (Regional Council) By-laws Hawker Regulation
12. Library (Urban Council) By-laws Libraries Regulation
13. Declaration of Markets in the Urban Declaration of Markets Notice
Council Area
14. Milk (Regional Council) Bylaws Milk Regulation
15. Mosquito Prevention (Urban Council)
By-laws
16. Museums (Urban Council) Bylaws Museums Regulation
17. Declaration of Offensive Trades in the Declaration of Offensive Trades
Urban Council Area Notice
18. Offensive Trades (Urban Council) Offensive Trades Regulation
Cap 552 - PROVISION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES (REORGANIZATION) ORDINANCE 8
By-laws
19. Places of Amusement (Regional Council) Places of Amusement Regulation
Bylaws
20. Pleasure Grounds (Regional Council) Pleasure Grounds Regulation
Bylaws
21. Private Cemeteries (Regional Council) Private Cemeteries Regulation
By-laws
22. Public Cemeteries (Regional Council) Public Cemeteries Regulation
By-laws
23. Public Cleansing and Prevention of Public Cleansing and Prevention of
Nuisances (Regional Council) By-laws Nuisances Regulation
24. Public Conveniences (Regional Council) Public Conveniences (Conduct and
By-laws Behaviour) Regulation
25. Public Market (Urban Council) By-laws Public Markets Regulation
26. Public Swimming Pools (Regional Public Swimming Pools Regulation
Council) Bylaws
27. Slaughterhouses (Urban Council) Bylaws Slaughterhouses Regulation
28. Stadia (Regional Council) By-laws Stadia Regulation
29. Swimming Pools (Regional Council) Swimming Pools Regulation
Bylaws
30. Undertakers of Burials (Urban Council) Undertakers of Burials Regulation
By-laws
31. Ventilation of Scheduled Premises Ventilation of Scheduled Premises
(Regional Council) By-laws Regulation
32. Ventilation (Urban Council) By-laws
33. Wells and Water Storage (Urban
Council) By-laws
Schedule: 3 AMENDMENTS TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND
MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE AND ITS
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION
02/01/2000
[section 7]
(Omitted as spent)
Schedule: 4 AMENDMENTS TO MUNICIPAL SERVICES APPEALS
BOARDS ORDINANCE
02/01/2000
[section 7]
(Omitted as spent)
Schedule: 5 AMENDMENTS TO DUTIABLE COMMODITIES
ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION
02/01/2000
[section 7]
(Omitted as spent)
Cap 552 - PROVISION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES (REORGANIZATION) ORDINANCE 9
Schedule: 6 AMENDMENTS TO PLACES OF PUBLIC
ENTERTAINMENT ORDINANCE AND ITS
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION
02/01/2000
[section 7]
(Omitted as spent)
Schedule: 7 CONSEQUENTIAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AMENDMENTS
L.N. 320 of 1999 01/07/2000
[section 7]
(Omitted as spent)
