FSD, FEHD and BD conduct joint inspection and enforcement operation on licensed food premises
The Fire Services Department (FSD), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Buildings Department (BD) conducted a joint inspection and enforcement operation targeting licensed premises yesterday (February 11) to inspect the fire safety conditions of a total of 30 food premises in Causeway Bay and Yuen Long, with a view to ensuring public safety.
During the operation, the FSD personnel identified multiple violations of the Fire Services (Fire Hazard Abatement) Regulation (Cap. 95F), including two cases of obstruction of means of escape, one case of wedged-open smoke stop doors, as well as 11 cases of fire service installations or equipment (FSIs) not being kept in efficient working order due to defects, removal or obstruction. The department took immediate enforcement action and issued 14 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices regarding the irregularities.
The officers of the FEHD issued verbal warnings to seven licensed restaurants, requested them to rectify the situations for failing to meet licensing conditions due to poor hygiene conditions and maintenance of the premises and equipment. The licences will be cancelled if the violations continue. Moreover, the BD has preliminarily identified that the layouts of 14 food premises did not tally with the corresponding licensed plans. The BD, in collaboration with the FEHD (i.e. the licensing authority), is currently conducting further investigations. If any breaches of licensing conditions are established, the FEHD will also take appropriate enforcement action.
Besides enforcement work, the fire personnel also carried out fire prevention publicity and education on common fire hazards and preventive measures for persons-in-charge of the relevant food premises, tenants and property management staff during the operation. The FSD emphasises that licensed premises have a high density of people and thus a relatively high fire risk. Licensees must bear the responsibility for fire safety, ensuring the means of escape are unobstructed, smoke stop doors remain closed at all times, and annual inspections and proper maintenance of FSIs are carried out as required by law. The FSD will continue to ensure the fire safety of licensed premises through interdepartmental collaboration and jointly build a safer community.
Shop providing RGA hair growth service suspected of operating unlicensed day procedure centre and possessing unregistered pharmaceutical product or Part 1 poison
The Department of Health (DH) today (February 12) announced that a shop in Mongkok, operating without a day procedure centre (DPC) licence, is suspected of illegally performing autologous cell transplant and platelet-rich plasma injections. This contravenes the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633) (the Ordinance) which prohibits operating a DPC without a licence.
Earlier, the DH received intelligence that a shop at Langham Place Office Tower, 8 Argyle Street, Mongkok, was promoting Regenera Activa (RGA) procedures, claiming that autologous cell injections into the scalp could stimulate hair growth. According to DH's records, the shop did not hold a DPC licence but was suspected of conducting related business. The DH, together with the Police, conducted a joint enforcement operation yesterday (February 11).
During the operation, devices and equipment used for RGA procedures and platelet-rich plasma processing and injections, as well as relevant records, were seized. The DH also seized 24 boxes of controlled drugs suspected to contain "Tirzepatide", which is a Part 1 poison and a prescription drug under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138). The product is alsosuspected to be an unregistered pharmaceutical product.The shop is therefore suspected of illegally possessing unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons.
In addition, doctors practising at the shop are suspected of performing high-risk medical procedures in premises without appropriate licence, therefore failing to act in patients' best interest when providing medical care. The DH has referred the case to the Medical Council of Hong Kong for follow-up.
The DH's investigation is ongoing. Appropriate actions will be taken against the shop and its responsible persons based on the evidence collected.
The RGA procedure offered by the shop involves autologous transplantation. Under the Ordinance, transplantation of any cells, tissues or organs, including autograft, allograft, xenograft, processed tissue or blood products (such as platelet-rich plasma) and skin flap, are scheduled medical procedures. Such procedures, when performed in an ambulatory setting, must take place in a licensed DPC. Any person operating a DPC without a licence commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for three years.
Furthermore, under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, the illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons constitutes a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for each offence upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
The DH reminded business operators that premises providing medical procedures, including RGA or platelet-rich plasma injection, must obtain a DPC licence under the Ordinance. To assist the public in identifying licensed or exempted facilities, the DH has established the Private Healthcare Facilities Register, which lists all private healthcare facilities with valid licences and exemptions. DPCs must display their licence in a conspicuous place. Each licence bears a QR code that can be scanned using the eHealth app to verify its validity. For more information, please visit the DH's Office for Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilities webpage.
Source: AI-found images
