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
Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million
Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Hong Kong International Airport and Yau Ma Tei respectively on April 1 and yesterday (April 2), and seized a total of about 3.1 kilograms of suspected ketamine, about 1.7 kilograms of suspected cocaine and about 1.7 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with a total estimated market value of about $3.4 million. Two persons suspected to be connected with the cases were arrested.
In the first case, a 43-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand on April 1. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 3.1 kilograms of suspected ketamine concealed inside food packaging in his baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.
In the second case, during an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Yau Ma Tei on April 2, Customs officers intercepted a 41-year-old man and later escorted him to a hotel room nearby for a search and seized about 1.7 kilograms of suspected cocaine, about 1.7 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, a drug inhaling apparatus and a batch of drug packaging paraphernalia. The man was subsequently arrested.
The arrested persons have been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug respectively and will appear at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (April 4).
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.
Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
