Man given suspended jail sentence for operating unlicensed food factory

     A man was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment suspended for 18 months by the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts yesterday (August 10) for operating an unlicensed food factory.

     A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said that the department earlier detected an unlicensed food factory at the rear lane of Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok. An operation was thus mounted on March 4, and prosecution was instituted against the operator of the premises.

     Under the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X), any person who carries on any food business which involves the preparation of food for sale for human consumption off the premises must obtain a food factory licence. Anyone operating an unlicensed food factory commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.

     Members of the public can report suspected unlicensed food premises by calling the FEHD hotline 2868 0000.