Trade Consultative Session about Electronic Services for Liquor License - May 14, 2008

It is about a year and a half ago that we met the Efficiency Unit (EU) to discuss Liquor License application. A lot of improvements have been already in place, including on-line service to allow applicants to track their application status for food business related license. In the very near future, EU will install electronic services for liquor license and related applications (e.g. renewal of license, change licensee and payment etc.). Hotel staff would be invited to test a trial run of the system in June or July. Target implementation date is end of 2008.

35 hotel staff from 32 Federation Member Hotels attended the session. Attendees were active in giving opinions e.g. natural person in holding liquor license has certain limitations and suggested that a corporate licensee should replace a natural person. This was a proposal that the Federation has been pursued for years.

The EU would propose a legal review to Food Safety & Environmental Hygiene Panel of the Legislative Council in June this year through the Food and Health Bureau to seek legal updating in areas like the above suggestion.