Hong Kong authorities arrest 13 unlicensed street vendors for illegal food sales

Hong Kong authorities have arrested 13 unlicensed hawkers, including eight aged 70 or over, for selling expired food products or products from unknown sources in a series of crackdowns in the city.

The products sold by hawkers in the East, Kwun Tong, Kowloon City and Kwai Chung districts include sushi, bread, canned goods, bottled soybean milk, packaged milk and meat, the Department of Food and Environmental Hygiene said on Tuesday.

“The ministry will charge unlicensed hawkers who engage in illegal hawking, obstruction in public places, selling restricted food without permission or selling expired food,” a spokesman said.

Authorities stressed that strict enforcement measures, including immediate arrests without prior warning, were necessary for food safety reasons, but that officers would deal leniently with elderly or disabled hawkers.

In response to the Post’s questions, the ministry said all 13 people were Hong Kong residents who were arrested between last Tuesday and Sunday or on Aug. 21. Five were aged between 50 and 69, while the other eight were aged between 70 and 85. disabled.

The ministry also warned the public that consuming expired products from unknown sources poses high risks to food safety and advised the public to avoid patronizing illegal hawkers.