FEHD tightens requirements on provisional licences application

Amidst rampant illegal extension of areas.

According to a report, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department says additional requirements will be imposed on restaurants applying for provisional licences, barring them from occupying areas beyond the confines of their premises.

The department made the statement in response to an Ombudsman report released today on regulatory measures and enforcement actions against illegal extension of business areas by restaurants.

The new measure targets black spots where illegal extensions are rampant, and repeated prosecutions have been recorded. No provisional licence will be granted if the new requirement is not met.

The department said it has adopted a multi-pronged approach to tackle the problem in recent years, to deter offenders. It will follow up on the report's recommendations and consider new measures.

Inspections and enforcement actions have been enhanced in recent years. The department has also expedited the prosecution process, and provided courts with additional information, such as conviction records, the number of complaints received, and the concerns of District Councils for consideration in passing sentences.

The number of prosecutions for illegally extending food business areas rose from 783 in 2010 to 1,350 in 2012, while the number of suspensions or cancellations of licences rose from 126 in 2010 to 238 in 2012. As a result, the number of related complaints decreased from over 6,200 in 2011 to about 5,000 last year.