Two Chinese restaurants located at Lo Tak Court in Tsuen Wan emitted cooking fumes and caused environmental nuisance to nearby residents. The restaurants were convicted on October 23 and today (October 30) respectively by Fanling Magistrates' Courts for contravening the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO) and were fined a total of $16,000.
During the investigation of a complaint this January against the cooking emissions of a restaurant, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) found that the two restaurants concerned emitted excessive cooking fumes which affected nearby residents. The EPD then issued statutory notices under the APCO requesting them to take measures to abate the cooking fumes and odour nuisance by the deadline. The two restaurants had failed to comply with this requirement by the specified date and continued to emit visible cooking fumes, which violated the requirements of the statutory notices. The EPD then prosecuted the restaurants concerned and continued to follow up on the cases. The emission levels of the two restaurants had been improved noticeably this month.
According to the APCO, restaurant operators should adopt effective remedial measures to abate excessive cooking fume emissions within a specified time limit upon receipt of a statutory notice. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. A maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment may be imposed on second or subsequent convictions.
An EPD spokesman reminded members of the food business that they should properly design and install appropriate and effective air pollution control equipment in the kitchens of food premises. They should also arrange for experienced technicians to clean, check and repair the equipment regularly to ensure no visible fumes or odours are emitted, so as to avoid causing air pollution and nuisance to the public.
Follow this news feed: East Asia