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(a) is this kind of cooking arrangement tantamount to extension of the kitchen area to the public area without prior approval? Is this a deviation from the layout plan submitted for application of licences, hence violating the licensing conditions? Has the Department taken out any prosecutions regarding the situation mentioned above?
(b) Is the above situation in breach of any fire services or hygiene regulations?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chan asked a written question and I will now give a formal reply.
Mr. Chairman, there are two parts to this question about cooking in the public area of restaurants. The first part asks if cooking food outside the kitchen area without prior approval would result in deviation from the approved layout plan hence violating the licensing condition; and if yes, what action the Department has taken.
The short answer to this question is yes. Six summonses have been taken out against the restaurants with such malpractice since 10 December 1996 when Bylaw 35D of the Food Business (Urban Council) Bylaws was enacted. However, some restaurants may set up temporary food warming counters outside the kitchen area during rush hours. Given the temporary nature and the small scope of operation of this kind of food warming counters, such operations do not normally pose any hygiene hazard. Under such circumstances, health inspectors will give suitable health advice on the proper food handling procedures to the restaurant operators.
The second part asks if the situation would be in breach of any fire services or hygiene regulations. Use of fuels in restaurants is under the control of the Fire Services Department and/or the Gas Standards Office of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department. A dangerous goods licence from the Fire Services Department is required if the amount of fuel used exceeds the exempted quantity specified under the Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations, Cap. 295, which for liquefied-petroleum gas is 130 litres nominal water capacity. Health Inspectors will refer such cases to the Fire Services Department or the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department for follow-up action, if in the course of their inspection of these restaurants they suspect that the amount of fuel stored on the premises is in excess of the exempted quantity. In the first five months of this year, five referrals in this connection were made to the Fire Services Department.
Mr. Chairman, the other question from Mr. CHAN is whether the reply was drafted by the Department with my agreement. The answer is yes.
Mr. Tim S. Manuel Chan (in Cantonese):—I have some follow-up questions, Mr. Chairman. Before I proceed with them, I wish to state my regret and dissatisfaction on the fact that the reply has evaded my question altogether. I say so for the following points.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
117
(a) is this kind of cooking arrangement tantamount to extension of the kitchen area to the public area without prior approval? Is this a deviation from the layout plan submitted for application of licences, hence violating the licensing conditions? Has the Department taken out any prosecutions regarding the situation mentioned above?
(b) Is the above situation in breach of any fire services or hygiene regulations?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEAlth Select COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chan aasked a written question and I will now give a formal reply.
Mr. Chairman, there are two parts to this question about cooking in the public area of restaurants. The first part asks if cooking food outside the kitchen area without prior approval would result in deviation from the approved layout plan hence violating the licensing condition; and if yes, what auction the Department has taken.
The short answer to this question is yes. Six summonses have been taken out against the restaurants with such malpractice since 10 December 1996 when Bylaw 35D of the Food Business (Urban Council) Bylaws was enacted. However, some restaurants may set up temporary food warming counters coutside the kitchen area during rush hours. Given the temporary nature and the small scope of operation of this kind of food warming counters, such coperations do
do not
not normally pose any hygiene hazard. Under such circumstances, health inspectors will give suitable health advice on the proper food handling procedures to the restaurant operators.
The second part asks if the situation would be in breach of any fire services or hygiene regulations. Use of fuels in restaurants is under the control of the IFire Services Department and/or the Gas Standard Office of the Electrical and IMechanical Services Department. A dangerous goods licence from the Fire *Services Department is required if the amount of fuel used exceeds the exempted quantity specified under the Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations, Cap. 295, which for liquefied-petroleum gas is 130 litres nominal 'water capacity. Health Inspectors will refer such cases to the Fire Services. Department or the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department for follow- up action, if in the course of their inspection of these restaurants they suspect that the amount of fuel stored on the premises is in excess of the exempted quantity. In the first five months of this year, five referrals in this connection were made to the Fire Services Department.
Mr. Chairman, the other question from Mr. CHAN is whether the reply was drafted by the Department with my agreement. The answer is yes.
Mr. Tim S. Manuel Chan (in Cantonese):—I have some follow-up questions, Mr. Chairman. Before I proceed with them, I wish to state my regret and dissatisfaction on the fact that the reply has evaded my question altogether. I say so for the following points.
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