Policy Address

In streamlining the restaurant licensing regime, new operators with provisional licences are currently allowed to begin business while seeking to complete their formal licence application. Such arrangement of "licence first, inspection later" has further expedited approval procedures whereas simplified administrative procedures have enabled new operators of restaurants that have changed hands to start business even sooner.

To further expedite the approval process of applications for outside seating accommodation (OSA) of restaurants, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will adopt a new way by proactively co-ordinating various relevant departments to undergo "joint-vetting" to resolve the matter together, and when necessary, escalate the process regarding complicated applications to the relevant Permanent Secretary or even the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration for steer; at the same time, the procedures will be streamlined, including adopting standardised Government rent for OSA, and allowing some applications to proceed without the requirement for increasing kitchen area and bathroom facilities. As for applications involving walkways with a remaining width of three metres or more after the provision of OSA, they will generally be considered as meeting the basic traffic requirements and do not have to be reviewed case-by-case.

Inject $1.43 billion into the BUD Fund²¹ and expand its geographical scope to cover eight more economies, including B&R countries. We will also enhance promotion and facilitate the participation of companies in exhibitions and export marketing activities through "Easy BUD".