​A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (June 19) said that the FEHD will continue to step up enforcement actions against the unauthorised display of easy-mount frames and other display fittings for business promotion in public places, and will prosecute the beneficiaries of such commercial publicity materials. Two telecommunications companies were fined for $150,000 and $200,000 respectively at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on June 18 for unauthorised display of commercial publicity materials.
The spokesman said the FEHD has all along been concerned about the illegal activity of displaying commercial publicity materials on busy streets. FEHD officers stepped up enforcement actions in the vicinity of Fuk Wah Street, Shum Shui Po from December last year to January this year, and removed a total of 94 posters and their stands. Upon further investigations, the department issued 15 and 20 summonses respectively to two beneficiaries, i.e. the two telecommunications companies, for the unauthorised display of commercial publicity materials on Government land. The two companies were convicted yesterday and fined for a total of $150,000 and $200,000 respectively, with the maximum fine of $10,000 imposed for each offence.
Under Section 104A(1) of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), any person displaying or affixing a bill or poster on Government land without permission commits an offence, and is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $10,000 and a daily fine of $300 upon conviction. FEHD officers can also remove the commercial publicity materials and the display fittings and recover the removal costs from the persons concerned pursuant to the relevant legislation.
The spokesman reminds street promoters and related commercial organisations to refrain from displaying commercial publicity materials illegally. The department will continue to carry out enforcement actions to curb such illegal activities and improve the district environment.
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