General Restaurant License
A General Restaurant License, commonly referred to as a “big license,” allows operators to serve various types of food, including rice, Chinese cuisine, Japanese dishes, and Western meals. License holders can use open flames and various cooking tools to provide dine-in services.
Suitable Businesses
All types of dine-in restaurants, including Chinese banquet halls, hot pot restaurants, teppanyaki, Korean BBQs, Chinese restaurants, tea restaurants, Western restaurants, etc.
Premises Specifications
- It is recommended to select premises with a usable floor area of no less than 30 square meters for general restaurants.
- Each restaurant must have at least one kitchen.
- The area for food preparation, kitchen, and dishwashing facilities should account for 10-25% of the total floor area, with a minimum of 8 square meters.
- Washrooms must be provided, and the number of hygiene facilities depends on the seating capacity and the number of employees.
Special Restrictions
If you wish to sell restricted food items, such as sashimi, sushi, raw oysters, or herbal tea, you must apply for a “Restricted Food Permit” alongside the General Restaurant License.
Building Restrictions
From a fire safety perspective, the following buildings are not suitable for obtaining restaurant licenses:
- Premises located on the fourth basement level or below.
- Premises located directly below a registered school/kindergarten or posing fire hazards to these establishments.
License Fees
The fees for a General Restaurant License are calculated based on the restaurant’s floor area:
- For restaurants of 200 square meters or less, the annual fee ranges from HKD$2,520 to HKD$4,410.
- For restaurants between 200 and 500 square meters, the annual fee ranges from HKD$5,650 to HKD$11,970.
- For restaurants between 500 and 1,000 square meters, the annual fee ranges from HKD$13,860 to HKD$23,900.
- For restaurants over 1,000 square meters, the annual fee ranges from HKD$37,750 to HKD$125,840.
For a temporary General Restaurant License or its renewal, the fee is half that of the standard license.
Q&A
“Restricted food” items, such as sashimi, sushi, raw oysters, and herbal tea, require an additional permit. During the application for a General Restaurant License, you can specify in the form that you intend to sell restricted food. The related application will be processed alongside the restaurant license application, and once the licensing conditions are fulfilled, the restricted food permit will be approved and added to the restaurant license for free.
As long as the basic licensing requirements are met (including hygiene, fire safety, ventilation, and design drawings), a provisional license can be issued, allowing the restaurant to begin operations. The provisional license is valid for six months, during which time the formal license application process must be completed. Operating without a formal or temporary license is illegal.
Under current regulations, a Factory Canteen License is restricted to serving employees within the factory premises. Violators may face legal penalties, with a maximum fine of HKD$50,000 and imprisonment of up to six months, plus a daily fine of HKD$900.
APPLICATION PROCESS
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