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The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene cancelled the licence of a fresh provision shop in North Point today (April 12) for violating the licensing conditions by using seawater extracted from a prohibited area for keeping live fish and shellfish intended for human consumption.
The premises are "Ho Ping Kee", located at Shop 11 at the Western Portion of North Point Ferry Pier.
A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said, "The operator of the shop was convicted and fined $1,500 by the court in December last year for the above-mentioned breach, which violated section 10AB of the Food Business Regulation (FBR) (Cap 132X). As the offence also violated the licensing conditions, the department has cancelled the licence of the shop after the conviction and completion of relevant procedures."
"After the licensee was convicted of the breach, FEHD staff closely inspected and monitored the shop to ensure the use of a legitimate source of seawater for keeping live fish and shellfish intended for human consumption until cancellation of the licence," he added.
To protect public health, the FBR specifies that no person should extract, supply, deliver and use seawater from a prohibited area for keeping, in the course of food business, any live fish or shellfish that is intended for human consumption. According to the regulation, 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 FBR or their licences could be cancelled. 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/index.html).
Ends/Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:01
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