A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (September 30) that, to further enhance food safety and environmental hygiene, the department carried out publicity and education work continuously at places where foreign domestic helpers gather across various districts, and stepped up intelligence-led blitz enforcement actions targeting irregularities such as unlicensed hawking, obstruction of passageways, leaving behind or storing articles in public places.

     In the operations conducted over the past three weeks, FEHD officers arrested a total of 10 persons at foreign domestic helpers' gathering places for suspected unlicensed hawking and causing obstruction in public places. About two tonnes of goods, including cooked food, clothes, hats, shoes, handbags and cosmetics, were seized. For the arrested persons suspected of breaching their conditions of stay, the FEHD has notified the relevant law enforcement departments to follow up on the cases in parallel.

     Following the end of the publicity and education period, the FEHD has stepped up patrols and cleaning operations at foreign domestic helpers' gathering places, issuing over 30 notices regarding articles in respect of unattended items, and removing more than 80 kilograms of articles obstructing scavenging work. In addition, regarding setting up of tents in public places and leaving personal belongings behind occupying government land, the department has referred relevant cases to the departments concerned for follow-up.

     The FEHD stressed that foreign domestic helpers engaging in illegal hawking are in breach of their conditions of stay. Employers are urged to remind their domestic helpers to comply with the law and maintain environmental hygiene. The FEHD will continue to conduct proactive inspections at places where foreign domestic helpers commonly gather, step up and further strengthen cross-departmental co-ordination. The FEHD appeals to relevant parties for their full co-operation in maintaining public hygiene. Members of the public may report suspected unlicensed hawking or other irregularities to the FEHD.

Ends/Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Issued at HKT 21:11

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