A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said on May 3 that the Vaccine Pass requirement has entered the second stage. The FEHD continued to step up its inspections territory-wide and conducted joint operations with the Police in a number of districts, so as to take enforcement actions against operators, staff, and customers of catering businesses and other premises in defiance of the anti-epidemic regulations. The spokesman again reminded parties concerned to remain vigilant and strictly comply with the requirements and directions under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) (the Regulation), the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L), etc. The FEHD will continue to conduct enforcement operations proactively and urges premises operators not to defy the law.
The FEHD and the Police in the past three days (April 30 to May 2) inspected a total of 354 catering premises and seven other premises during the joint operations, and the FEHD on its own inspected a total of 1224 catering premises and 334 other premises. Over the past three days, the FEHD initiated procedures for the prosecution against operators of 49 catering premises suspected of breaching the requirements under the directions.
The FEHD also required the premises to take corresponding measures for reducing the risk of transmission. Premises found with irregularities had to, on the subsequent day of being identified with the irregularities by the enforcement officers, cease selling or supplying food or drink for consumption on the premises from 6 pm to 4.59 am on a subsequent day, and allow no more than two persons to be seated together at one table, for a period of three, seven or 14 days. In addition, the FEHD also issued fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to six customers suspected of breaching the requirement of scanning the "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code. During the joint operations, the Police also took enforcement actions, including issuing FPNs.
In addition, the FEHD conducted joint operations with several government departments over the last weekend at public places where people including domestic helpers congregate during weekends and public holidays to carry out publicity and educational work, appealing to them to raise awareness of epidemic prevention and comply with the various anti-epidemic regulations and restrictions.
The FEHD, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force, the Labour Department, relevant District Offices, and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, conducted joint operations at various public places near popular domestic helper gathering places during the weekend and public holidays. Apart from arranging for cleansing service contractors to strengthen the street cleansing services at the relevant spots, the FEHD also stepped up patrols to combat unlicensed hawking activities. During the operation, a total of 15 FPNs were issued to persons who breached public cleanliness offences, and 13 seizures of hawker abandoned articles, including cooked food, were effected. Domestic helpers have also been reminded by other government departments to comply with the regulations on mask-wearing and the prohibition of gatherings in public places.
To minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission, the spokesman strongly appealed to all sectors of the community to stay vigilant and comply with the relevant regulations on the prevention and control of disease in a concerted and persistent manner. The FEHD has strengthened its publicity efforts and will take stringent enforcement actions. All sectors are reminded to exercise self-discipline and co-operate to fight the virus together.
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