Hong Kong to propose granting hygiene inspectors power to dispose of perishable goods seized for obstructing passageways
- Environment and Ecology Bureau says proposal could help authorities cut cost of keeping goods in cold storage for merchants to take back
- Bureau also seeking to allow officers to issue penalty notices and initiate prosecutions based on images or video recordings from food and hygiene department’s cameras
Hong Kong’s environmental authorities are seeking to empower public hygiene inspectors with the right to dispose of perishable goods, such as fruits and vegetables, that have been confiscated for obstructing passageways.
The Environment and Ecology Bureau said on Wednesday the proposed move could help authorities save on costs as the goods would no longer need to be kept in cold stores for the merchants to take them back.
“This will enhance the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department’s capability to handle shopfront extension problems independently,” a spokesman said in a paper submitted to the Legislative Council.
“If the prosecution is unsubstantiated, the government will make reference to the existing arrangement for seizure of goods in the hawking-regulating legislation, to pay the claimant an amount corresponding to the value of the goods.”
The bureau also proposed enabling the department’s officers to issue penalty notices and initiate prosecutions based on images or video recordings from the department’s cameras. At present, officials can only take enforcement actions when someone is caught red-handed.
The government last October increased the penalty for “causing obstruction in a public place” to HK$6,000 (US$767), up from HK$1,500.