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Officers from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) smashed an illegal food factory in Tsuen Wan this (March 6) morning and seized 160 kilogrammes of raw meat and marinated meat.

Acting on information, officers of a special operation team in the Tsuen Wan District raided a 60 square-metre unit in a residential building at 187 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan at 10 a.m. The team discovered four cooking stoves and 160 kilogrammes of raw meat and marinated meat.

A 42-year-old man arrested at the scene was charged for operating an unlicensed food factory.

A spokesman for the FEHD said that the department would continue to strengthen surveillance and enforcement against illegal food preparation activities to ensure food safety and safeguard public health.

"Furthermore, illegal food preparation activities in residential buildings cannot be tolerated, because this will pose hazards to nearby residents' lives and property,." The spokesman noted.

"Members of the public are encouraged to report such illegal activities to the department through our hotline at 2868 0000. All information will be kept confidential," he added.

According to the Food Business Regulation under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap 132, the maximum penalty for operating an unlicensed food factory is a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months plus a daily fine of $900.

End/Wednesday, March 6, 2002

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