9.
H
Friday, November 23, 1973
FOOD SELLING MACHINES A BUSINESS
New measures to bring health regulations up-to-date for the running
of food business in the New Territories will be introduced from February 1
next year.
The new measures, contained in the Food Business (New Territories)
(Amendment) Regulations 1973, are published in today's gazette.
Under the amending regulations, the operation of food vending
machines will be considered a food business and the health authorities
will be provided with powers to prosecute the owner of an unlicensed business
when its operator cannot be located.
At the same time, the regulations discontinue the need to license
shops which sell fruit or Vegetables, and introduce a simplified system to
calculate the minimum kitchen area required for restaurants of different sizes.
Similar amendments to the Food Business By-laws, which apply to the
urban areas, are expected to be made in the near future.
Commenting on the new regulations today, a spokesman for the Urban
There
Services Department explained that a coin-operated food vending machine was
now considered a food business and required a permit because it was necessary
to maintain high standards of hygiene to safeguard public health.
has also been an increasing number of such machines being used to sell food.
On the other hand, the spokesman pointed out, it was no longer
necessary to license fresh provision shops selling fruit or vegetables,
except cut fruit and fresh fruit juice, because there was now little risk
to public health from their sale.
/On the
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