The following is issued on behalf of the Business Facilitation Advisory Committee Secretariat:

     The Business Facilitation Advisory Committee held its 34th meeting today (March 30). The Water Supplies Department (WSD) briefed the committee on the key findings and recommendations of the Business Impact Assessment study on Amendment of Section 15 of Waterworks Ordinance (Cap. 102). The proposed amendment aims at regularising eligible workers to carry out plumbing works and clearly state the obligations of licensed plumbers.

     The committee also noted the work of its three task forces. This includes:

(a) The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) briefed the Wholesale and Retail Task Force (WRTF) on the inspection and quarantine arrangement about frozen meats at Qianhai. The arrangement allows frozen meat destined for Hong Kong from overseas to be stored temporarily in the Qianhaiwan Bonded Port Area of Shenzhen for subsequent delivery to Hong Kong in batches. It thereby provides the trade with an additional option for storage of frozen meat.

(b) The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) briefed the WRTF on enforcement actions in relation to the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR).  The WRTF welcomed C&ED's continued efforts in partnering with traders in the combat of IPR crimes.

(c) The FEHD briefed the Food Business and Related Services Task Force (FRSTF) and the Task Force on Business Liaison Groups (BLGTF) on the Reserve Licensee Mechanism for liquor licences which was rolled out in the first quarter of 2017. The mechanism aims to minimise disruption to business operation due to sudden departure of the liquor licensee.

(d) The FEHD also briefed the FRSTF on the revised "Application Form for Food Business Licence" to facilitate the trade to submit one single application for selling soft ice-cream and/or slurpees as well as restricted foods such as milk and non-bottled drinks at the same premises.

(e) The Environmental Protection Department briefed the BLGTF on its newly published guidebook on "Good Practices on The Control of Noise From Liquor Licensed Establishments" to provide liquor licensees with guidelines and good practices for mitigating noise generated from the premises.

     The committee also appreciated the continuous efforts of the bureaux and departments in further enhancing their business licensing services under the "Be the Smart Regulator" Programme.

     Papers for the committee meeting will be available at www.gov.hk/en/business/supportenterprises/bf/advisory/index.htm for public access.

Ends/Thursday, March 30, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:45

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