FEHD obtains closure order against unlicensed food premises in Kowloon Bay (with photo)

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 15) obtained a closure order from the court against a premises in Kowloon Bay that has been persistently operating a food business without a licence.

     The premises, located at Unit 1B2, Ground Floor, Fook Hong Industrial Building, 19 Sheung Yuet Road, has been operating as a restaurant without a licence since 2019. Up to the present, the FEHD has instituted 76 prosecutions against this irregularity.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "The FEHD has been taking stringent enforcement and regulatory actions against the blatant contraventions of the restaurant in question. However, the restaurant continued to operate without a licence persistently. Given the fact that the food premises persistently breached the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X), the FEHD applied to the court for a closure order under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) to completely rectify the irregularity. Upon affixing a copy of the closure order at a conspicuous place on the respective premises earlier today, the order will come into force at the beginning of the eighth day (January 23) in accordance with the law."

     According to the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), unless with written permission from the FEHD, no person may enter or remain on any closed premises, failing of which is an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $100,000, imprisonment for 12 months and a daily fine of $1,750.

     The spokesman stressed that the FEHD will continue to crack down on unlicensed food premises to safeguard food safety and public health. Operators are urged not to defy the law, while members of the public are urged to not patronise these premises.

     Licensed food premises are required to exhibit their licences and a sign at a conspicuous place of the premises, indicating that the premises have been licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the department website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/list_licensed_premises.html). Members of the public can report any suspected unlicensed food premises by calling the FEHD hotline at 2868 0000.