SQL & PL/SQL

I have the following PL/SQL block which is intented to be used as AJAX Callback in APEX 18.

DECLARE
  pHasProvinces INTEGER;
BEGIN
  p302_country_code := apex_application.g_x01;
  SELECT COUNT(*) 
  INTO pHasProvinces
  FROM SUBDIVISION
  WHERE
      SUBDIVISION_LEVEL = 3 AND
      COUNTRY_CODE_ALPHA2 = p302_country_code;
  
  IF pHasProvinces > 0 THEN
      htp.p('YES');
  ELSE
      htp.p('NO');
  END IF;

htp.p returns 'YES' or 'NO' with a line feed character at the end.

1. Is it possible to return 'YES' or 'NO' without line feed?.

2. Is this the recommended way to implement a PL/SQL AJAX callback which returns text in Oracle 18c?

Oracle 18c XE