Five restaurants in Central and Western District and Southern District fined for emission of excessive cooking fumes
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An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said that two of the restaurants involved were in Aberdeen while the other three were located at Queen's Road West, Yat Fu Lane and Western Street in Sai Wan. Related public complaints were received by the EPD during the period from June to August in 2016. Upon assessment of the cooking emissions, EPD staff found that these restaurants were emitting excessive cooking fumes. Statutory notices were issued to the operating companies of these restaurants to require them to install effective air pollution control equipment or get their electrostatic precipitators repaired. As the restaurants failed to finish the remedial works before the specified dates and continued to emit excessive visible cooking fumes, which violated the statutory notice requirements, the EPD subsequently prosecuted the operating companies concerned.
The restaurants at Queen's Road West and Aberdeen were convicted and fined $3,000 and $6,000 respectively by Eastern Magistrates' Courts on June 5 and June 19, while the other restaurants in Yat Fu Lane and Western Street in Sai Wan and another restaurant in Aberdeen were fined $5,000, $6,000 and $5,000 respectively by the same magistrates' courts today.
According to the APCO, anyone who fails to comply with any of the requirements of the statutory notice 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.
The spokesman reminded members of the food business that they should design and install proper and effective air pollution control equipment in the kitchens of food premises. They should also arrange experienced technicians to clean, check and repair the equipment regularly to ensure that there is no emission of visible cooking fumes or cooking odour, so as to avoid causing air pollution or nuisance to the public, which violates the APCO.
Ends/Monday, June 26, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:25
Issued at HKT 15:25
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