Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ7: Use of "alcohol candle" on dining tables in restaurants

Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (November 6):

Question:

The use of "alcohol candle" (solidified alcohol) on dining tables as fuel for preparing hotpots or keeping the food warm has become very popular among the restaurants in Hong Kong in recent years. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether:

(a) the use of "alcohol candle" by restaurants for such purposes is in violation of their licensing conditions; if so, whether the Fire Services Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have ever instituted prosecutions against the restaurants concerned;

(b) it will conduct extensive publicity programmes among restaurants so that they will not unwittingly violate the licensing conditions; and

(c) it will consider relaxing the licensing conditions for restaurants to allow them to use "alcohol candles"?

Reply:

(a) According to the existing fire safety requirements for licensed restaurants, only fuels permitted by the Fire Services Department (FSD) can be used in the seating accommodation for cooking or food warming purpose. At present, permitted fuels in this regard are limited to electricity, town gas and liquefied petroleum gas and do not include "alcohol candle". While the use of "alcohol candle" is not permitted by the existing licensing conditions, it is not an offence under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has therefore not initiated any prosecutions against the restaurants concerned. Nevertheless, warnings may be given to the operators for breaching the licensing conditions.

(b) & (c) We are aware of the increasing use of "alcohol candle" for food warming and heating in food business premises in recent years. Recognising the relatively low fire risk arising from the proper use of "alcohol candle" in small quantity, FEHD, FSD and Buildings Department (BD) are actively reviewing the existing fuel restrictions. These departments are working closely to formulate a suitable regulatory scheme that addresses the trade's concern without compromising fire safety as soon as practicable. In the meantime we will keep overseeing the use of "alcohol candle" to ensure that it does not compromise fire safety.

END/Wednesday, November 6, 2002
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