Joint Operation Targets Food Safety Violations in Kwun Tong, Leading to 20 Prosecutions and Fire Safety Enforcement Actions

FEHD and FSD conduct joint inspections and enforcement operation to licensed food factories in industrial buildings

A spokesperson for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (February 13) said that, in relation to hygienic conditions and potential violations of the licensed food factories on upper floors of industrial buildings, a joint operation with the Fire Services Department (FSD) was conducted at noon yesterday (February 12) to strengthen inspections of the food business premises in an industrial building in Kwun Tong District, and to ensure their hygienic conditions and mode of business operation are in compliance with licensing conditions and legal requirements.

During this joint operation, FEHD officers focused on inspecting the overall hygienic conditions and mode of business operation of the licensed food factories and carrying out stringent enforcement actions against any breaches of licensing conditions and illegal operation of restaurant business. During the operation, FEHD officers initiated 20 prosecutions against the incriminated licensed food premises, including 18 prosecutions against food business premises for operating restaurant businesses illegally, one prosecution against possession of restricted food for sale without permission, and one prosecution against dirty equipment in food premises, and issued 24 verbal warnings against breaches of licensing conditions for which the licences will be cancelled if the violations continue.

During the operation, the FSD also deployed multiple units to target the fire safety conditions of the common areas and licensed premises within the building, with a view to eliminating potential fire hazards and ensuring public safety. The FSD personnel identified seven violations of the Fire Services (Fire Hazard Abatement) Regulation (Cap. 95F) in the common areas of the subject building and in some of the licensed food factories respectively. Those violations included obstruction of means of escape, as well as removal of fire service installations or equipment. The FSD has issued six Fire Hazard Abatement Notices regarding the irregularities and will institute one prosecution for obstruction of means of escape. The FSD will continue to work with all parties to promote a fire safety culture and jointly build a safer and more resilient community through a multipronged approach, including enforcement, publicity and interdepartmental collaboration.

A spokesperson stressed that the FEHD will continue to strengthen inspections of food premises across all districts, to ensure the compliance with licensing conditions and legal requirement by the licensees, and will take stringent enforcement actions against contraventions in accordance with the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) and its subsidiary legislation.

The industrial building, Photo source: reference image

DSD deeply saddened by passing of contractor staff member

The Director of Drainage Services, Mr Ringo Mok, was deeply saddened by the passing of a staff member of its contractor in an accident that occurred at a construction site for upgrading works of existing sewerage system at Yen Chow Street in Sham Shui Po yesterday (May 27). He expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and requested the contractor to provide them with appropriate assistance.

At about 8.30am yesterday, the worker was injured during a lifting operation at the construction site. He was sent to Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment and was certified dead at about 11.30pm.

The Drainage Services Department (DSD) has requested the contractor to suspend the related works and conduct a safety check. The contractor was also instructed to carry out a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident. The DSD will also render full assistance to relevant departments in their investigations.

Source: AI-found images