Hong Kong Regulations

FOOD BUSINESS REGULATION - SECT 5

Cleanliness and repair of food premises

(Past version on 30/06/1997).

PART II

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO FOOD BUSINESSES

(1) Every person who carries on any food business shall at all times cause the
walls , floors, doors, windows, ceiling, woodwork and all other parts of the
structure of any food premises used by him in the course of such food business
to be kept clean and free from noxious matters and to be kept in such good
order, repair and condition as to-

   (a)  enable them to be effectively cleaned; and

   (b)  prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, infestation by rats,
        mice and insects and the entry of birds.

(2) No person engaged in any food business shall place or permit to be placed
or to remain placed any furniture or equipment, other than such as can be
moved without difficulty by one man, so near to any wall in any food premises
as to obstruct access to any part of such wall, or of such furniture or
equipment, for the purpose of cleaning.

(3) No person engaged in any food business shall knowingly suffer or permit-

   (a)  in any food premises, the presence of rats, mice or insects; or

   (b)  in any food room, the presence of live birds or animals.

(4) If it appears to the Director on the report of any health officer or
health inspector that any food premises, or any part thereof, are or is, by
reason of uncleanliness or structural repair or condition, in such a state as
to be unfit for use in any food business, the Director may cause a notice to
be served upon the proprietor of such food business requiring him to cleanse,
disinfest, limewash, repair or modify such food  premises, or such part
thereof, in such manner and within such time as shall be specified in the
notice and, in the opinion of the Director, be necessary to render such
premises or such part thereof fit for use as food  premises. (10 of 1986 s.
32(2); 78 of 1999 s. 7)

(5) If the proprietor fails to comply with any of the requirements of a notice
served under subsection (4)-

   (a)  he shall be guilty of an offence; and

   (b)  the Director may cause such work as may be necessary for compliance
        with the requirements of the notice to be carried out and may recover
        any expenses incurred thereby from the proprietor. (10 of 1986 s.
        32(2); 78 of 1999 s. 7)