Seeking to enhance food safety and environmental cleanliness, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) carried out operations across the city, including areas where foreign domestic helpers often gather during their days off. The department targeted unlicensed hawking, obstruction of passageways, and other irregularities.
During these operations, several arrests have been made for suspected unlicensed hawking and obstruction in public places, over the month September. In Hong Kong, these activities could lead to a fine of HK$ 25,000 or three months in jail.
10 Persons Arrested for Unlicensed Hawking and Obstruction
As of 30 September 2026, a total of 10 persons in areas where foreign domestic helpers usually gather have been arrested for suspected unlicensed hawking and obstruction in public places, according to a press release from the FEHD. Around two tonnes of goods, including hats, clothes, shoes, bags, cosmetics, and cooked food were sized.
In a previous report, the FEHD said that as of 21 September, the arrested persons included two men and six women of non-Chinese ethnicity, and one Chinese man. Their ages ranged between 30 and 55 years old.
Image Credit: fehd.gov.hk
Publicity and Education Campaign
For quite some time, the FEHD has been concerned about food safety and environmental hygiene problems caused by unlicensed hawking and obstruction of passageways in foreign domestic helpers’ gathering places.
To address these concerns, the department, in coordination with relevant consulates-general, conducted a publicity and education campaign. They handed out multilingual leaflets in places where foreign domestic helpers often gather, reminding them that unlicensed hawking is against the law, and advising them not to patronise unlicensed hawkers.
After the campaign, the FEHD intensified its cleaning operations in these areas, issuing more than 30 notices regarding unattended items, and removing over 80 kilograms of items that obstruct scavenging work. As for cases involving the setting up of tents in public places, as well as the leaving of personal belongings on government property, the FEHD has referred such cases to the departments concerned.
Fines and Penalties
Under the laws of Hong Kong, unlicensed hawking could lead to a maximum fine of HK$ 10,000 and six months imprisonment. Likewise, if an unlicensed hawking activity also causes obstruction of passageways, the penalty becomes HK$ 25,000 or three months in jail.
Moreover, upon conviction, the selling of restricted food such as frozen meat, sushi, and sashimi without permission could lead to a maximum fine of HK$ 50,000 and six months in jail.
Image Credit: fehd.gov.hk
Foreign domestic helpers are reminded that unlicensed hawking is a breach of their conditions to stay, and therefore liable to prosecution under Hong Kong law. Similarly, employers are advised to remind their employees to follow the law, and to maintain environmental cleanliness at all times.
Indeed, when it comes to environmental hygiene, Hong Kong implements certain rules, which apply to everyone, including tourists. For more details, read this guide on prohibited acts that could land tourists in jail.