FEHD Intensifies Enforcement Against Illegal Hawking at Foreign Domestic Helpers' Gathering Spots

FEHD continues to combat unlicensed hawking at foreign domestic helpers' gathering places and steps up removal of articles stored in public places

A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (September 30) that, to further enhance food safety and environmental hygiene, the department carried out publicity and education work continuously at places where foreign domestic helpers gather across various districts, and stepped up intelligence-led blitz enforcement actions targeting irregularities such as unlicensed hawking, obstruction of passageways, leaving behind or storing articles in public places.

In the operations conducted over the past three weeks, FEHD officers arrested a total of 10 persons at foreign domestic helpers' gathering places for suspected unlicensed hawking and causing obstruction in public places. About two tonnes of goods, including cooked food, clothes, hats, shoes, handbags and cosmetics, were seized. For the arrested persons suspected of breaching their conditions of stay, the FEHD has notified the relevant law enforcement departments to follow up on the cases in parallel.

Following the end of the publicity and education period, the FEHD has stepped up patrols and cleaning operations at foreign domestic helpers' gathering places, issuing over 30 notices regarding articles in respect of unattended items, and removing more than 80 kilograms of articles obstructing scavenging work. In addition, regarding setting up of tents in public places and leaving personal belongings behind occupying government land, the department has referred relevant cases to the departments concerned for follow-up.

The FEHD stressed that foreign domestic helpers engaging in illegal hawking are in breach of their conditions of stay. Employers are urged to remind their domestic helpers to comply with the law and maintain environmental hygiene. The FEHD will continue to conduct proactive inspections at places where foreign domestic helpers commonly gather, step up and further strengthen cross-departmental co-ordination. The FEHD appeals to relevant parties for their full co-operation in maintaining public hygiene. Members of the public may report suspected unlicensed hawking or other irregularities to the FEHD.

FEHD continues to combat unlicensed hawking at foreign domestic helpers' gathering places and steps up removal of articles stored in public places Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD continues to combat unlicensed hawking at foreign domestic helpers' gathering places and steps up removal of articles stored in public places Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD continues to combat unlicensed hawking at foreign domestic helpers' gathering places and steps up removal of articles stored in public places Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD continues to combat unlicensed hawking at foreign domestic helpers' gathering places and steps up removal of articles stored in public places Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD continues to combat unlicensed hawking at foreign domestic helpers' gathering places and steps up removal of articles stored in public places Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD continues to combat unlicensed hawking at foreign domestic helpers' gathering places and steps up removal of articles stored in public places Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD continues to combat unlicensed hawking at foreign domestic helpers' gathering places and steps up removal of articles stored in public places Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS finds Salmonella in Hainanese chicken rice sample

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (September 30) that a sample of Hainanese chicken rice was found to contain a pathogen, Salmonella. The CFS is following up on the incident.

"The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a restaurant in Wan Chai for testing. The test result showed the presence of Salmonella in 25 grams of the sample, exceeding the criterion of the Microbiological Guidelines for Food, which states that Salmonella should not be detected in 25g of a ready-to-eat food sample," a spokesman for the CFS said.

The CFS has instantly deployed staff to the restaurant concerned for investigation, and has informed the restaurant concerned of the irregularity. Therestaurant concerned has already stopped selling and discarded the affected product according to the CFS's instruction. The CFS has provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the restaurant, and requested it to improve the food preparation process as well as carrying out thorough cleaning and disinfection according to the CFS's advice.

According to section 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), all food available for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, should be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.

"Salmonella infection may cause fever and gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The effects on infants, young children, the elderly and people with a weak immune system could be more severe and may even lead to death," the spokesman said.

The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. The investigation is ongoing.

Source: AI-found images