A Korean barbecue restaurant in Temple Mall South in Wong Tai Sin failed to comply with a statutory notice to minimise strong cooking smells, thus causing environmental nuisance to nearby residents. The restaurant was fined $5,000 by Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (October 19) for contravening the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO).

     During the investigation of a complaint in March this year against the cooking fume emissions by a restaurant, Environmental Protection Department (EPD) enforcement officers found that the restaurant involved did not install for its cooking stoves proper equipment to control cooking fumes. As the exhaust outlet of the restaurant was facing the pavement and a nearby bus stop, residents and waiting passengers in the vicinity were therefore affected by its cooking emissions. The EPD then issued a statutory notice to the restaurant in accordance with the APCO, requesting it to abate the smell nuisance by a specified date. As the restaurant failed to comply with the requirement to take appropriate remedial measures by the deadline, the EPD subsequently prosecuted the restaurant operator. The operator is now following up on the improvement works.

     An EPD spokesman reminded food business operators that they should install and use proper equipment to control the emission of oily fumes and cooking odours in accordance with the EPD's guidelines. They should also ensure regular maintenance and proper operation of their exhaust systems and cooking fume control equipment to avoid causing nuisance to nearby residents. Upon receipt of a statutory notice, food business operators must comply with the notice requirements to carry out relevant improvement works within the specified time.

     According to the APCO, anyone who fails to comply with the statutory notice requirements commits an offence. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. A maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment may be imposed on second or subsequent convictions.

     Guidelines on the control of oily fumes and cooking odours from restaurants and food business have been uploaded to the EPD's website for reference by restaurant operators:
www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/guide_ref/pamphlet_oilfume.html.

Ends/Thursday, October 19, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:00

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