Hong Kong Restaurant License Application (Catering license) guide

Clear boundaries of legal authority. Ordinary restaurants are allowed to prepare and sell any kind of food . The cooking methods of snack restaurants are strictly restricted., Only allowed to be boiled, stew, Steam, stew, Simple frying and other cooking methods that do not produce a lot of fumes, Deep frying and stir frying are absolutely prohibited . also, Ordinary restaurants are legally required to provide proportionally larger food rooms (kitchens and washing areas) .

No. Provisional License is a transitional mechanism established by the government to facilitate the industry to open early., Its legal validity period is only 6 months . The licensee must complete all final compliance projects and obtain a formal license within this 6-month period. If you simply apply for a provisional license without applying for a formal license, The government will not accept .

To avoid investment losses, Applicants must verify three major statutory documents before signing a lease:

• (1) government lease (Government Lease), Ensure no objectionable industry or use restrictions are violated;
• (2) Occupancy permit/occupancy certificate (Occupation Permit), Ensure that the premises is approved by the Buildings Department for commercial/restaurant use;
• (3) Statutory plans (Statutory Plan), Make sure the outline zoning plan allows "restaurant" use .

Absolutely not. The FEHD’s mandatory requirement is that the premises to be licensed must have “no unauthorized construction works”. The applicant must hire an "Approved Person (AP)" or "Registered Structural Engineer (RSE)" at his or her own expense to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the premises, And sign and submit the statutory "Certificate of No Unauthorized Construction Works", Otherwise the licensing process will come to a complete standstill.

The service commitment of the FEHD is, An “Application Review Panel (AVP) meeting” will be held within 20 working days after the application is formally accepted. . By then the Buildings Department, Representatives from the Fire Services Department and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will interview you, If in principle the premises are considered suitable, The government will issue you a "Letter of Requirements" before the meeting or on the day of the meeting. .

Under the traditional mechanism, After completion, the applicant needs to wait for government personnel to come to the site for final verification (it takes about 8 working days), After passing the test, wait another 7 working days before the license is issued. . And under the PCS mechanism, Take the "first deal", "post-inspection" principle. As long as your Authorized Person (AP/RSE) issues a Certificate of Compliance, FEHD waives prior on-site inspection, The formal license will be issued within 2 working days after confirmation of receipt of the documents., Significantly shorten the waiting period for vacant leases .

No need to apply independently for a new license, But must apply“Restricted Food Endorsement”. According to the law, Such restricted food must not be sold without written permission . Applicants only need to check the relevant items on the application form (FEHB 94), The FEHD will put forward special hygiene and equipment requirements (such as independent sashimi rooms), Once the standard is met, the approval stamp will be added to the restaurant license for free. .

Absolutely prohibited. Operating out of a store without a license is a criminal offense . You must additionally submit the Application for Outdoor Seating (FEHB 197) form . Applications will face housing, Firefighting, planning, Joint review by transportation and other departments, and regional public consultations from the Home Affairs Office . If government land is occupied, You must also apply for a land license or short-term lease from the Lands Department and pay rent .

no. Hong Kong implements independent jurisdiction over alcohol sales. Restaurant license does not include the right to sell alcohol. Allow customers to drink alcohol in restaurants, You must submit toLiquor Licensing BoardSubmit liquor license application independently .

Legislation has a time limit. Applicants must apply within 3 months after the provisional license expires, Or within 12 months after the issuance of the notice of licensing conditions for the formal license (if a provisional license has not been applied for), Fulfill all licensing conditions . If there is no force majeure reason for overdue, Application will be deemed automatically withdrawn .

Facing severe prosecution and shop closures. Once discovered operating without a license, In addition to criminal prosecution, The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will apply to the court for a closure order in accordance with Section 128B of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance. (Closure Order) . Once the premises are closed by a court order, While the closure order is in effect, The FEHD will absolutely refuse to accept and process any license application for the premises .

The application must be submitted together with the proposed design drawings in triplicate . The plan is legally required to be in decimal units, and must be no less than 1:100 Accurate drawing of common proportions . If you need to modify it later, Must be marked on the original image with a colored pen, It is strictly prohibited to arbitrarily replace new plans to avoid delays in approval .

Do not automatically include. Alcohol sales and other restricted food events should check with independent licenses and conditions, Restaurant license cannot cover all additional catering services.

First check whether the license is issued to an individual, Company, Place or designated business. New business entities or persons in charge should not directly use old documents, Applicable changes should be made, Transfer or New Application Process.

put new location, facility, Compare service content and responsible personnel with approved documents item by item. The original license does not necessarily cover the new venue or activity, Applicable approvals and relevant departmental procedures should be completed first.

Competent authorities may require additional clarifications, Modify plans or make rectifications. It is recommended to check the address before submitting, floor plan, equipment, people and real business, and keep version records of modifications, Reduce round-trip replacement parts.

Can refer toHong Kong Restaurant License Application (Catering license)Supervision and application information from competent authorities, Check corresponding systems and processing information.

It is recommended to retain contracts that prove the fact of the transaction or service, bill, Delivery and inspection records, Set permissions and retention periods according to applicable rules. Electronic records should be searchable, Backup and export, Don’t just rely on employee personal accounts.

No. Company survival, Business registration and industry-specific licensing have separate procedures and deadlines.. It is recommended to create separate reminders, and check insurance, Do personnel qualifications and accompanying conditions also need to be updated?.

Organize valid licenses, Approved plans or business description, Personnel information, Equipment maintenance and business records, and arrange for a person in charge who can explain actual operations. After inspection, rectification should be made as required, You cannot just provide a formal explanation.

It should be judged based on the services provided and actual business activities., Exemption cannot be determined just because there are no stores or orders are received through the platform.. merchandise, Delivery location, The customer's location and actual services may have additional regulatory requirements..