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The operator of an unlicensed restaurant in Mong Kok was fined $2,000 and sentenced to one month's imprisonment, suspended for 12 months by a North Kowloon Magistrate today (Thursday).

The Mong Kok District Environmental Hygiene Superintendent of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Mr Yeung Shun-kui said: "The restaurant operator was found guilty under the Food Business Regulation of operating an unlicensed restaurant on the ground floor of 61 Tai Kok Tsui Road."

The restaurant operator had three similar convictions in the past nine months and had been fined a total of $9,400.

Mr Yeung stressed that the Department would not tolerate any unlicensed food premises and would continue to take stringent enforcement actions against the operators to ensure public health and environmental hygiene.

In 1999, a total of 6,460 summonses were issued while 560 summary arrests were made against unlicensed food premises in the territory.

Under the Food Business Regulation, the maximum penalty for operating unlicensed food business is a fine of $50,000 and an imprisonment of six months plus a daily fine of $900.

End/Thursday, February 10, 2000

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