Home Affairs Department continues to take stringent enforcement actions relating to anti-epidemic regulations
A spokesman for the Home Affairs Department (HAD) said today (September 13) that the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) under the HAD continued to step up inspections of premises licensed by the OLA (including hotels, guesthouses, club-houses and amusement game centres) and take stringent enforcement actions against premises operators, staff and customers in premises that defy the anti-epidemic regulations. In respect of the recent epidemic situation, the OLA will proactively take stringent enforcement actions on an ongoing basis. Premises operators and the public are urged not to defy the law, but to work together to reduce the risk of virus transmission in the community.
The spokesman reminds the licensees, customers and guests to strictly comply with the requirements and directions under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F), the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) etc., including the requirement on the Red Code and Amber Code under the Vaccine Pass (i.e. including using the "QR Code Verification Scanner" mobile application developed by the Government to scan patron's vaccination record or exemption certificate, updating the application to the version 4.4.0 or above and maintaining the mobile device connected to the internet); and customers of catering premises participating in a banquet activity have to comply with the rapid antigen test requirement.
From September 1 to 12, the inspection and enforcement figures of the OLA under the HAD in respect of scheduled premises licensed by it are set out below:
| Premises | Number of inspections | Initiation of prosecution actions against operators of premises | Fixed Penalty Notices issued to patrons/staff of premises |
| Hotels | 144 | – | – |
| Guesthouses | 245 | 2 | – |
| Club-houses | 875 | 4 | 9 |
| Amusement Game Centres | 99 | – | – |
Moreover, the OLA also required the premises found with irregularities to, on the subsequent day of being identified of the irregularities by the enforcement officers, take corresponding measures for reducing the risk of transmission. The details of the case numbers are as follows:
| To take corresponding measures for reducing the risk of transmission | Number of premises |
| Closure of the relevant part(s) of the premises for three days | 2 |
| Closure of the relevant part(s) of the premises for 14 days | 4 |
| Cease selling or supplying food or drink for consumption on the premises from 6pm to 4.59am of the subsequent day, and allow no more than two persons to be seated together at one table, for a period of 14 days | 2 |
The HAD strongly appealed to all persons-in-charge and patrons of the premises again to stay vigilant and continue to comply with the relevant regulations on prevention and control of disease, in a concerted and persistent manner, with a view to keeping their staff, customers and the public safe, and controlling the epidemic situation. The HAD will continue to strengthen its publicity efforts and enforcement actions. All trades are reminded to exercise self-discipline and comply with the regulations to fight the virus together.