Premises decide everything
Restaurant & Food Business Licensing in Hong Kong
Hong Kong food licensing is premises-driven and strict. The site is the application.
GCC business setup specialists
The premises are the licence
A Hong Kong food business licence attaches to specific premises and is assessed on layout, ventilation, drainage, fire safety and hygiene. Signing a lease before the site has been assessed is the expensive mistake in this sector.
- Site assessed against licensing requirements before you sign
- Provisional licence route explained
- Multiple departments co-ordinated
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Mainland, free zone and offshore jurisdictions we file in — so the recommendation is based on your activity, not on which authority we happen to be registered with.
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Companies successfully established.
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What is assessed
The approvals behind a food licence
Several departments are involved, not one.
| Area | What it assesses |
|---|---|
| Food business licence | The category — restaurant, food factory, bakery, takeaway. |
| Premises layout | Kitchen design, separation and workflow. |
| Ventilation and drainage | Extraction, grease management and discharge. |
| Fire safety | Means of escape and suppression, assessed by the fire authority. |
| Building works | Structural and layout alterations require approval. |
| Hygiene standards | Ongoing, and enforced by inspection. |
Hong Kong food licensing involves several departments and is premises-specific. Requirements change and are enforced by inspection. Company secretarial and registered office services in Hong Kong must be provided by a licensed trust or company service provider. We co-ordinate your engagement with a licensed Hong Kong provider and manage the process end to end; the regulated filings are made by them.
How it works
From site to opening
The site assessment saves the most money.
01
Assess the site
The premises assessed against licensing requirements before you commit to a lease, including ventilation, drainage and escape routes.
02
Apply and fit out
Application lodged, often with a provisional licence sought, and fit-out co-ordinated with the requirements.
03
Inspections and licence
Inspections passed across the departments involved, and the full licence issued.
Site and operation
What a food business must cover
Nearly all of this attaches to the premises.
- Business Registration and company details
- Lease or provisional agreement for the premises
- Floor plans and layout drawings
- Ventilation and extraction design
- Drainage and grease trap arrangements
- Fire safety provisions and escape routes
- Building works approvals where alterations are made
- Equipment specifications
- Food handler arrangements
- Pest control arrangements
- Waste disposal arrangements
- Insurance cover
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Site assessment against licensing requirements
- Licence category recommendation
- Application preparation and submission
- Guidance on the provisional licence route
- Co-ordination across the departments involved
- Inspection scheduling and attendance
- Responses to conditions raised
- Renewal calendar set
Not included, quoted separately
- Government and licence fees, paid at cost
- Lease, rent and service charges
- Kitchen fit-out, ventilation and equipment
- Drainage and grease works
- Fire safety installation
- Building works and structural alterations
- Architectural and engineering drawings
- Staff training and food handler courses
Verify independently
Official Hong Kong authorities
We file directly with these bodies on your behalf.
Inland Revenue DepartmentImmigration DepartmentLabour DepartmentMandatory Provident Fund Schemes AuthorityCustoms and Excise DepartmentFood and Environmental Hygiene Department
Questions
Hong Kong food licensing — FAQs
Can I sign a lease before the licence?
You need premises to licence, but have the site assessed first. Hong Kong premises frequently cannot meet ventilation or escape requirements without major works.
What is a provisional licence?
A route that can allow limited operation while the full licence is being completed, subject to conditions. Whether it is available depends on the premises and the application.
How many departments are involved?
Several, covering food hygiene, fire safety and building works. Co-ordinating them is most of the job.
How long does it take?
Months rather than weeks, driven by fit-out and inspections. The site assessment makes the rest predictable.
What about selling alcohol?
That involves a separate liquor licence with its own application and conditions, planned alongside the food licence.
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