The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) continued its best endeavours in 2023 to safeguard food safety and maintain a clean and hygienic environment for the people of Hong Kong.

Environmental Hygiene

Hygiene Blackspots Elimination

FEHD fully supports the "Government Programme on Tackling Hygiene Black Spots". In 2023, the Department conducted over 20,000 special cleansing operations at the 244 hygiene black spots under its purview, and successfully brought about significant improvement to over 90% of the hygiene blackspots.

The amended Fixed Penalty (Public Cleanliness and Obstruction) Ordinance took effect on 22 October, raising the fixed penalty for depositing litter or waste, spitting, displaying bills or posters without permission in public places, and fouling of street by dog faeces to $3,000. In 2023, FEHD staff issued approximately 44,400 fixed penalty notices for these cleanliness offences.

Shopfront Extension

During the year, the FEHD and Police conducted 1,612 joint enforcement operations against shopfront extensions, not only prosecuting the offenders but also removing the obstructive items, thereby enhancing the deterrent effect. Effective from 22 October, the Government raised the fixed penalty for shopfront extension offences from $1,500 to $6,000 and increased the maximum penalty imposed by the court to a fine of $25,000 or imprisonment for three months. The issue of shopfront extensions has shown notable improvements in multiple districts.

Rodent prevention and control

The Department conducted strategic anti-rodent operations at 108 priority rodent black spots throughout the territory, eliminating around 60% (a total of 70) of these spots in 2023, achieving the key performance indicator set out in the 2022 Policy Address.

In 2023, the number of live rodents caught was 63,344, an increase of around 39% compared to 2022. During the year, the Department also handled 11,075 reports of rodent problem, issued 90 written warnings and collected 34,496 dead rodents. Additionally, 18,485 rat holes were filled.

The Department initiated territory-wide overnight rodent control operations in all districts by establishing 19 overnight rodent control teams since mid-July 2022. The number of teams increased to 31 by October 2023. Since rodents are usually active at night, these overnight rodent control operations have significantly enhanced the effectiveness of rodent prevention and control work at black spots.

Mosquito prevention & control

The All-out Anti-mosquito Operation began on 20 March 2023, aiming to suppress the adult mosquito population. An inter-departmental Anti-mosquito Campaign was also launched in three phases throughout 2023.

In 2023, the Department’s anti‑mosquito teams conducted 800,789 inspections, identifying and eliminating 76,855 mosquito breeding places.

Licensing

The Department seeks to facilitate the food business operators and customers as much as possible while maintaining food safety and environmental hygiene. In March 2023, the FEHD implemented two new measures to enhance the food business licensing regime: the introduction of a "Professional Certification System" (PCS) as an additional option to the application for a full licence and significantly relaxing the restrictions on food items sold by Light Refreshment Restaurants (LRRs). By the end of 2023, more than 580 licensed and newly licensed LRRs had benefitted from the relaxation measure, and six food business licence applications processed under the PCS had been approved.

Public Markets and Cooked Food Centres

The FEHD Sunlight Market (formerly known as Tung Chung Temporary Market) located at Fu Tung Street in Tung Chung was commissioned in March 2023. The Government is taking forward a number of new public market projects that are at different planning stages, including the new markets in Tin Shui Wai, Tseung Kwan O, and Kwu Tung North New Development Area.

Apart from the development of new public markets, the Department is implementing the Market Modernisation Programme (MMP). Aberdeen Market, the first overhaul project of the MMP, officially reopened in May 2023; while Lai Wan Market reopened in February 2024. Preparatory and consultation work is underway for the proposed overhaul or redevelopment projects in five other markets, namely Ngau Tau Kok Market, Kowloon City Market, Yeung Uk Road Market, North Kwai Chung Market and Causeway Bay Market. In addition, the Department has carried out minor refurbishment or improvement works in 16 markets, of which 14 have been completed.

Lunar New Year Fairs

As the COVID-19 epidemic subsided, FEHD resumed organising the Lunar New Year Fairs in 2023. The seven-day Lunar New Year Fairs concluded successfully with over 1.14 million visitors.

Hawker management

As at the end of 2023, there were 5,053 hawkers operating in licensed fixed-pitch stalls and 270 licensed itinerant hawkers.

Public toilets

The Department is implementing the Enhanced Public Toilet Refurbishment Programme. In 2023, 44 public toilets underwent refurbishment or received a facelift, which included three public toilets situated at major tourist spots. As at 31 December 2023, 136 public toilets had been refurbished or facelifted under the Programme, while the works for another 251 public toilets were either in progress or under planning.

The "Smart Public Toilet System" prototype developed by the Department in collaboration with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department has been further extended to two newly built public toilets in Pak Shek Kok and Lai Chi Wo.

Green Burial

The Department has been actively promoting a more environmentally friendly and sustainable means of burial by encouraging the public to adopt green burial to scatter ashes of their ascendants in its 13 Gardens of Remembrance or in designated Hong Kong waters.

The Green Burial Campaign Launch Ceremony was held in October 2023, followed by a series of promotional activities with the theme of "Green Burial - Love Living On". Members of the public are encouraged to engage in advance planning of the last mile of life with a positive attitude, sharing one's wishes with family and choosing green burial that makes the environment sustainable and endures love.

In 2023, there were a total of 9,381 green burial cases, accounting for 16.5% of the total deaths that year, making it the highest usage rate of green burials to date.

C&C services and Private Columbaria

The Department manages six government crematoria, 10 public cemeteries, 12 public columbaria, two keeping facilities and one cremation facility for abortuses. Among them, Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium was commissioned on 19 July 2023, providing 25,340 new extendable niches. During the year, all eligible applicants were allocated new public niches in respective columbarium without waiting.

As at the end of 2023, the Private Columbaria Licensing Board had made certain decisions on all applications for specified instruments in respect of pre-cut-off private columbaria, including approving four licence and exemption applications during the year.

Food Safety

Import control measures on Japanese food

The Japanese Government announced the commencement of discharging nuclear-contaminated water on 24 August 2023. A Food Safety Order (the Order) was issued and took effect on the same day to prohibit the import of aquatic products, sea salt, and unprocessed or processed seaweed originating from ten metropolis/prefectures of Japan. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) also conducts comprehensive radiological tests on the radiation levels of similar products from other prefectures of Japan that are not subject to import prohibition to ensure that they meet the guideline levels before allowing them into the market.

Food surveillance and risk assessment

Food safety has all along been maintained at a high standard in Hong Kong. In 2023, approximately 65,000 food samples were tested at import, wholesale and retail levels. The overall satisfactory rate stood at 99.8%. Furthermore, the CFS released the results of six risk assessment projects.

Food Standards

To enhance protection for consumers and facilitate the food trade, the Government conducted a public consultation on the proposed amendments to the Preservative in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD) in 2023 to promote harmonisation of local and international food safety standards. The Harmful Substances in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2021, which was passed earlier, has been implemented in two phases in 2023 smoothly.

Risk Communication

During the year, the CFS has launched thematic websites for the public and trade, titled "Safe Food for All" (cfs.gov.hk/safefood) and "Safe Kitchen" (cfs.gov.hk/safekitchen), respectively. Moreover, the CFS started its year-round Food Safety Day 2023 campaign in June, focussing on the theme "Like Love, Food Safety is No Accident–Practise Five Keys Now!" to promote the importance of safe handling and preparation of food.

Food Trader Portal

The Food Trader Portal (FTP) interfaced with the Government Trade Single Window (TSW) in May 2023 for more convenient management of issues concerning the application for food import and export documents. In December 2023, an online application service for recommendation on food manufacturer registration was launched on the FTP to facilitate the process for local food manufacturers to register with the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) for the export of the specified 18 categories of food products to the Mainland in accordance with the Decree No. 248 of the GACC.