The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's new mechanism accelerates the approval of outdoor seating applications for restaurants, with simple cases expected to be approved in principle within one month

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced that starting today, it will work with relevant departments to adopt a new "joint review" mechanism and streamline procedures for processing applications for outdoor seating at restaurants to facilitate business operations. A spokesperson stated that in the past, the median processing time from receiving an application to approval was 12 months. Under the new arrangement, straightforward cases are expected to receive preliminary approval and inform applicants of specific licensing requirements within approximately one month.

Additionally, application requirements have been moderately relaxed. For example, eligible restaurants are not required to increase kitchen space and restroom facilities to set up outdoor seating; if the pedestrian passage remains at least three meters wide after setting up outdoor seating, it will generally be considered compliant with road requirements.

Under the new arrangement, the application forms have been improved, allowing departments to grasp the necessary information and expedite approvals. The Home Affairs Department will also conduct regional consultations simultaneously. If no objections are raised by any party, the application will receive preliminary approval; once the applicant complies with the licensing conditions and is inspected by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and relevant departments, formal approval will be granted immediately.

If there are complex cases during the simultaneous "joint review," the relevant permanent secretaries and the Deputy Secretary for Administration will intervene to handle them. After granting outdoor seating, departments will also conduct reviews as needed to ensure there are no violations