Most say proposals to revamp the points system are too harsh and unrealistic, and will only antagonise the catering sector
Lawmakers have criticised government proposals to revamp its demerit points system for restaurants and other food premises as too harsh and unrealistic.
Speaking on RTHK's Talkabout programme yesterday, Liberal Party legislator and Hong Kong Catering Industry Association chairman Tommy Cheung Yu-yan said the proposal would only antagonise the catering sector.
'What benefits do food premises gain from poisoning their customers? Food premises have constantly increased their hygiene knowledge. I think the government has wasted a lot of money on hiring hygiene inspectors to make people's life hard,' he said.
Mr Cheung said some of the areas that would be regarded as offences under the proposals were questionable, such as hiring people not properly immunised against certain diseases or likely to spread diseases - both of which could lead to licence suspension.
Democrat lawmaker Fred Li Wah-ming, who chairs the council's panel on food safety and environmental hygiene, which will discuss the proposals on Tuesday, felt that while the government had good intentions, it failed to take into account the actual operating environment of the food premises.
'Suspending them for seven days has already hurt them a lot as they still have to pay workers' wages and rent, and lose income. Also, diners may not come again as they could find better alternatives in the meantime,' he said.