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BFAC welcomes Government's continuous efforts to facilitate business compliance
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The following is issued on behalf of the Business Facilitation Advisory Committee Secretariat:

     The Business Facilitation Advisory Committee held its 35th meeting today (August 18). The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) and the Department of Health jointly briefed the committee on the progress regarding the Dutiable Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2017. The Amendment Bill seeks to legislate the prohibition of the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor to minors in the course of business.

     The committee also noted the work of its three task forces. This includes:

(a) The Innovation and Technology Commission briefed the Wholesale and Retail Task Force (WRTF) on the Technology Voucher Programme, which has been launched by the Government to subsidise local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to use technologies to improve productivity. The WRTF welcomed the Government's efforts in helping SMEs to enhance competitiveness through the use of technologies.

(b) The FHB and the Centre for Food Safety jointly consulted the WRTF on the proposed amendments to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations. The WRTF appreciated that the Government would allow a grace period for trades to get prepared before the amended Regulations come into effect.

(c) Regarding the record keeping requirement for waste cooking oils, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department provided an update to the Food Business and Related Services Task Force (FRSTF), noting that the food trade had no compliance problem in general during the grace period.

(d) The FRSTF appreciated that the Government has recently introduced measures to facilitate timely processing of liquor licence applications.

(e) The Buildings Department briefed the Task Force on Business Liaison Groups (BLGTF) that, in light of the cinema trade's operation trends, the means of escape requirement for small-sized cinemas had been revised. The BLGTF thanked the Government for helping to foster the development of the cinema industry.

(f) The BLGTF welcomed the Home Affairs Department's resumption of multi-year licence issuance for the guesthouse trade. In addition, a guideline has been published to help the trade prepare alternative proposals in place of a 24-hour manned counter requirement.

     The committee appreciates the continuous efforts of the bureaux and departments in further enhancing their business licensing services under the "Be the Smart Regulator" Programme.

     Papers for the committee meeting will be available at www.gov.hk/en/business/supportenterprises/bf/advisory/index.htm for public access.
 
Ends/Friday, August 18, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:00
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