FEHD combats unlicensed hawking and obstruction at foreign domestic helpers' holiday gathering places (with photos)
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During the first few weeks of the operation, the department conducted publicity and education activities. Over the past two weeks, FEHD officers arrested a total of nine persons at foreign domestic helper gathering places for suspected unlicensed hawking and causing obstruction in public places, and seized about 1.5 tonnes of goods, including cooked food, clothes, hats, shoes, handbags and cosmetics. The arrested persons comprised two men and six women of non‑Chinese ethnicity, and one Chinese man, aged 30 to 55. Among them, two men held recognisance forms prohibiting them from taking up employment, and one man held Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao. For all the arrested persons suspected of breaching their conditions of stay, the FEHD will notify the relevant law enforcement departments to follow up on the cases in parallel.
The FEHD has long been concerned about obstruction of passageways, environmental hygiene and food safety problems arising from unlicensed hawking at foreign domestic helpers' gathering places. The department earlier conducted a publicity and education campaign lasting several weeks in collaboration with staff of relevant consulates‑general in Hong Kong, distributing multi-lingual leaflets at places where foreign domestic helpers frequently gather across various districts to remind them that unlicensed hawking is illegal, and to appeal to them not to patronise unlicensed hawkers.
According to the relevant ordinances, unlicensed hawking is subject to a maximum fine of $10,000 and six months' imprisonment. If unlicensed hawking activities also cause obstruction of passageways, offenders may be fined $25,000 or imprisoned for three months. In addition, any person who sells restricted food (including frozen meat, sashimi and sushi) without permission commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment upon conviction.
The FEHD reaffirmed its commitment to relentlessly curbing unlicensed hawking activities, and stressed that foreign domestic helpers engaging in illegal hawking breach their conditions of stay. Employers are urged to remind their helpers to abide by the law and maintain environmental hygiene. Members of the public who come across suspected unlicensed hawking or other irregularities may report them to the FEHD.
Ends/Monday, September 21, 2026
Issued at HKT 21:50
Issued at HKT 21:50
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