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With restaurants and bars well patronised by people celebrating the approach of the New Year, a Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) spokesman said today (December 28) that the department's health inspectors, together with Fire Services Department (FSD) officers had stepped up inspection of upstairs bars.
The spokesman said, the Liquor Licensing Board (LLB) will approve an application for a liquor licence only when the Board is satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold the licence, the premises are suitable for selling liquor having regard to its location, structure, fire safety and hygienic conditions and, in all circumstances, the grant of the licence is not contrary to the public interest.
"It is of the utmost importance that these liquor-licensed premises strictly comply with licence requirements having regard to, among others, the fire safety and hygienic conditions on the premises," he said.
In a joint operation conducted tonight by FEHD and FSD, more than 10 upstairs bars in Wan Chai were inspected. Licence holders were reminded to comply with the licence conditions at all times and maintain passageway and exit routes unobstructed. Fire preventive messages are also disseminated during the inspection.
Ends/Friday, December 28, 2012
Issued at HKT 21:57
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