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The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene cancelled the licence of a fresh provision shop in Shau Kei Wan today (February 6) for violating the licensing conditions by extracting seawater from a prohibited area for keeping live fish intended for human consumption.
"The operator of the fresh provision shop, located at shop D on the ground floor of 17 Mong Lung Street, was convicted and fined $1,000 by the court in November last year for extracting seawater from a prohibited area for keeping live fish intended for human consumption, which is a breach of section 10AB of the Food Business Regulation (FBR) (Cap 132X). As the offence also violates the licensing conditions, the department has cancelled the licence of the fresh provision shop after the conviction and completion of relevant procedures," a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said.
"After the licensee was convicted for the breach, FEHD staff closely inspected and monitored the shop to ensure the use of a legitimate source of seawater for keeping live fish intended for human consumption until cancellation of the licence," he added.
According to the FBR, the prohibited areas include Victoria Harbour, 14 typhoon shelters, areas along the shoreline of Hong Kong Island (including Ap Lei Chau) and along the western shoreline of the New Territories (including Tsing Yi).
The spokesman reminded shop licensees to comply with the law. The department will continue to take enforcement actions against offenders to protect public health.
Licensed food premises are required to exhibit a sign, at a conspicuous place near the main entrance, indicating that the premises have been licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD's website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/licence-type.html).
Ends/Thursday, February 6, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:01
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