The Mei Foo Jiu Hua Keng BBQ Site, which has been repeatedly prosecuted for operating without a license for many years, has been closed for less than three weeks. Recently, it was replaced by a new company. The new operator reopened under the name of "Giving Back to the Society" and "Management and Marketing Services" The staff claimed that they no longer sell food and that customers must purchase the food or supplies they need through online shopping or a store. Some residents are worried that the unit will be under the siege of barbecue smell again when the Christmas Eve holiday is approaching and request the authorities to follow up.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department stated that it has sent staff to inspect the site several times and found no unlicensed food business. It will continue to monitor the site and take appropriate actions.
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The new operator claims to only provide venue use services
Two barbecue sites in Jiuhua Drive have been operating without a license for 18 years. Smoke and noise caused long-term nuisances to nearby residents due to nearby residential buildings.
As the person in charge was accused of operating an ordinary restaurant without a license and was fined 40,000 yuan and suspended for 2 years, the barbecue site removed its signboard and temporarily closed its business earlier this month.
When reporters from Hong Kong 01 went to the scene this evening, they saw the original "Yoshiyaki" barbecue site, which was replaced with a sign of "Lucky 360 management and marketing limited". There were also a number of signs saying "Our company contributes to the society" and " There are many notices to remind guests to observe the epidemic prevention measures and scan to "Travel with peace of mind"; the layout of the barbecue site has not been significantly changed. By about 6:30 in the evening, there were about 6 citizens When a family entered the venue, the staff asked the visitors if they had purchased barbecue bags online beforehand, and "walkin" was not accepted.
A venue manager surnamed Guan acknowledged in response to enquiries that he had worked in the former barbecue site, but "the old people broke the law and don't do it, but the new ones" hired about 20 employees, 15 of whom were from the old company, all of whom were from the old company. As a villager of Jiuhuajing, the new company used to rent a venue for exhibition and sales, and has never been involved in the catering industry. This time it also uses venue management as its main business model. All customers entering the venue must present an online food order from a designated licensed food manufacturer Fang was allowed to enter the venue. Drinks and charcoal and other supplies were purchased through a store in the village. The company only debited RMB 30-50 from it to pay for water, electricity and labor expenses, and was responsible for maintaining the hygienic environment and security order in the venue. Emphasize that "the venue management does not require a (food business) license, but you can use a business registration certificate to apply for travel with peace of mind."
Regarding the residents’ complaints that they do not want the smell of barbecue to pour into the unit, Manager Guan explained, “Many people like BBQ. I don’t want to do the barbecue package business in the future because the former company is too popular, and the customers are too hot to cook and eat. He revealed that in addition to a barbecue food manufacturer providing online food to the venue, another seafood direct supplier and a rice cake retailer are negotiating cooperation. The details are yet to be finalized. He emphasized that the open space of Jiuhuajing Village should be used as much as possible. 𠵱The people of Duluo live in Mei Foo or fenced villages. They need space for rest. Previously, there was no license for burning food, but new and old people hope to return to a reasonable path for the citizens, and there is room for the family to play together."
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department: yesterday's surprise inspection found no problems
He also pointed out that only two days after the trial operation, the Food and Environmental Protection Department, the Police Force, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and the Environmental Protection Department came to the scene to conduct surprise inspections, and no problems were found. The new company has made efforts to improve the noise and odor problems, including the unified requirement for the use of smokeless charcoal barbecues. , Install air purifiers and comply with government anti-epidemic regulations, such as wearing long masks and only four people per one, turning off the lights at 11:30 in the evening, and suspending business before midnight, hoping to minimize the impact of residents.
Former Kwai Tsing District Councillor Zhang Junqiao, who has been following up on the incident, pointed out that even if the venue changes to a new model, instead of providing food to the visitors, it will switch to online shopping and delivery, but if there are still barbecue activities, it will be harmful to residents. The impact remains the same. "The meat is only a small part of the problem." He believes that government departments should consider countermeasures, or start from the source of online shopping, and see how they can be dealt with under the current laws. If problems are discovered, they must be followed up.
In response to enquiries, a spokesperson for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department stated that according to records, the barbecue site at Kau Wah Keng currently does not hold a food business license issued by the Department. He stated that under the Food Business Regulation (Chapter 132X), any preparations involved Food businesses selling food for people to eat outside the food premises must obtain a food factory license issued by the Department, and any non-bottled non-alcoholic beverages (except herbal tea) that involve the sale of meals or non-bottled food for consumption on the premises Or the food premises for drinking must have a restaurant license.
It is illegal for anyone to operate a food business without a license. Once convicted, he can be fined up to 50,000 yuan and imprisoned for six months, plus a daily fine of 900 yuan.
The spokesman continued that the department has always been concerned about the illegal food business in the barbecue area in Jiuhua Trail. It has often taken enforcement actions and surprise detentions, and conducted joint surprise operations with relevant government departments as needed. The staff visited the site for inspection. The most recent time was yesterday, during which no one was found operating an unlicensed food business. He emphasized that he would continue to monitor the situation on the site and take appropriate actions.
The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer responded that according to records, the person in charge of Lucky360 had submitted valid supporting documents when applying for the QR code of the "Travel at ease" place.
Jiuhua Trail BBQ Site is reopened with a sign change. Residents worry about the "Zombie Resurrection" Jiuhua Trail BBQ Site during the Christmas and New Year’s Eve holiday | The person in charge of the two barbecue sites in Jiuhuajing, who agreed to dismantle the signboards by himself, admitted that they were operating without a license and was sentenced to probation and a fine of 40,000
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