FEHD steps up inspections and enforcement to combat non-permitted food premises allowing dogs to enter
Since the implementation of the measure allowing dogs to enter permitted food premises, the dedicated team from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has been proactively conducting inspections over the past few days, and has launched a one-week targeted enforcement operation since July 14 to combat non-permitted food premises in breach of the regulation for allowing dogs to enter. A spokesman for the FEHD said today (July 17) that the department has initiated the first prosecution against a non-permitted restaurant in Tsuen Wan District.
During an inspection of a non-permitted restaurant in Tsuen Wan yesterday (July 16), the dedicated team found that dogs were allowed on the premises and immediately initiated a prosecution against the licensee of the non-complying restaurant.
The spokesman said, "The FEHD will continue to step up inspections and enforcement over the next few days. If dogs are found to be allowed into non-permitted food premises, dedicated officers will initiate prosecution immediately. As of July 16, dedicated officers have conducted over 780 inspections of non-permitted food premises in various districts and issued ten verbal warnings in total."
According to the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X), no person shall bring any dog into food premises unless permitted by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, and no person engaged in the food business shall knowingly suffer or permit the presence of any dog on his/her food premises. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $10,000, three months' imprisonment, and an additional daily fine of $300.
The spokesman reminded that both food premises operators and dog owners have the responsibility to comply with the relevant regulations. Non-permitted food premises should abide by the law and must not allow customers to bring dogs into their premises. Members of the public who bring dogs into non-permitted food premises also commit an offence and will face the same legal penalty. The department will continue to carry out targeted enforcement actions.
Moreover, to assist operators in adapting to the new measure and complying with the relevant requirements, the FEHD has been conducting continuous inspections to permitted food premises and stepping up publicity efforts, while taking enforcement actions against relevant irregularities. As of July 16, dedicated officers have conducted about 7 500 inspections of permitted food premises across various districts, and issued warning letters to the licensees of two permitted food premises for persistent non-compliance – namely a permitted Chinese restaurant in Kowloon City District as previously announced, and another permitted Thai restaurant in Tsuen Wan District – requiring immediate rectification of the non-compliance of cooking or heating food on dining tables.
The spokesman emphasised that permitted food premises are subject to a set of rigorous regulations, the purpose of which is to ensure the safety of persons and dogs within the food premises as well as to maintain environmental hygiene. Non-permitted food premises lacking such regulatory oversight cannot provide the necessary safeguards. In the interests of customers and staff, strict enforcement action must be taken. In addition, customers' right to choose should also be respected. Food premises allowing dogs to enter without permission not only commit an offence, but also deprive customers of their right to choose.
The spokesman added that, while the department regards the first month of implementation as an adaptation period for the measure, it does not mean a relaxation of regulatory oversight. Should serious cases of non-compliance or situations affecting environmental hygiene or food safety be detected, the FEHD will not hesitate to take decisive enforcement action to ensure public safety and fairness of the policy. The department appeals to the persons-in-charge and frontline staff of permitted food premises to earnestly fulfil the licensing conditions and legal requirements, and to supervise and remind customers with dogs, so as to safeguard diners' safety and public hygiene.
Source: AI-found images
SITI attends 2026 World AI Conference and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, attended the 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC 2026) and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai today (July 17), and delivered a speech at the Seminar on Fostering Economic Innovation and Global Collaboration through AI.
President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the WAIC 2026 and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in the morning and delivered a keynote speech, saying that the world has entered an unprecedented period of active innovation on AI technologies. All countries should take a people-centered approach and develop AI for the positive and for good and that AI is an important driver for shared prosperity and common security. Professor Sun also attended the opening ceremony.
The country attaches great importance to AI development, and the National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly states the need to "deepen the construction of the Digital China Initiative and enhance the level of digital and intelligent development". With the country's planning and support, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is accelerating its efforts to build Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre in full swing, constructing a comprehensive, reliable, international and sustainable AI ecosystem, as well as proactively integrating into the national "AI+" initiative.
In the afternoon, Professor Sun attended the Seminar on Fostering Economic Innovation and Global Collaboration through AI organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. In his opening speech, he said that the HKSAR Government has elevated AI to a core industry for Hong Kong and established the principle of "industries for AI and AI for industries". Leveraging the robust research and development (R&D) capabilities of Hong Kong's universities, Hong Kong is currently building an internationally competitive I&T ecosystem with "three major I&T parks and five key R&D institutions" as the backbone. The three major parks have gathered over a thousand AI-related enterprises and start-ups, forming a vibrant cluster. Also, the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research Institute is soon to be launched, and 16 laboratories focusing on AI and robotics under the InnoHK platform have brought together nearly 1 200 top global R&D talents to drive research breakthroughs and global I&T collaboration.
Professor Sun said that Hong Kong's overall computing power has currently reached 5 000 PFLOPS. The construction of the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster is at full speed, which is expected to provide 180 000 PFLOPS of computing power upon completion, equivalent to 36 times Hong Kong's current computing power. The Cluster, together with the Hong Kong Park in the Loop and the San Tin Technopole, constitutes the new development pattern of "I&T in the north" to seize opportunities and room for AI R&D, industrialisation and cross-boundary collaboration. It will also achieve highly efficient complementarity with the industrial chains and computing clusters of various provinces and municipalities in the Mainland, thereby promoting Hong Kong to become an advanced data and computing hub in the region, and contributing Hong Kong's power to the development of Digital China.
Professor Sun pointed out that the HKSAR Government is promoting AI development on all fronts, from policy governance to fund allocation, adding that the Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy has been established to formulate strategies for AI-driven industrial transformation. The Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund will be launched within this year to channel market capital to invest in emerging and future industries including AI, digitalisation, and upgrading and transformation. The HKSAR Government will continue to promote the safe and orderly cross-boundary flow of data in a pragmatic and robust manner, and establish an AI governance framework to strike a balance among innovation, application, and responsibility, ensuring its safe and reliable development.
Afterwards, Professor Sun visited the Hong Kong Pavilion at the WAIC 2026. The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the Cyberport and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park organised a total of 18 Hong Kong start-ups focusing on areas including smart city and infrastructure, robotics and automation to participate in the exhibition. The Hong Kong Productivity Council has also set up a thematic exhibition area. Professor Sun met with the participating enterprises to understand the latest development outcomes of the industry.
Professor Sun also met with Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government Mr Zhu Min. He stated that the HKSAR Government has been proactively aligning with the 15th Five-Year Plan and is pressing ahead to formulate Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan, in which I&T will be a key segment. As I&T is a core development area for both Shanghai and Hong Kong, both governments are ramping up support across multiple dimensions such as policy, resources and industries. He expected that I&T co-operation between the two places can be further strengthened in the future.
Professor Sun will conclude the duty visit and return to Hong Kong in the afternoon tomorrow (July 18).
SITI attends 2026 World AI Conference and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends 2026 World AI Conference and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends 2026 World AI Conference and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends 2026 World AI Conference and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends 2026 World AI Conference and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends 2026 World AI Conference and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends 2026 World AI Conference and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends 2026 World AI Conference and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends 2026 World AI Conference and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
