Karaoke establishments, nightclubs, bars and other entertainment clubs
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DescriptionsThis Business Liaison Group (BLG) is a formal forum for owners and operators of karaoke establishments, nightclubs, bars and other entertainment clubs and representatives of related trade associations to exchange views with government representatives on licensing and regulatory matters. Operators of these businesses may need to apply for karaoke establishment licence/permit, liquor licence, Certificate of Compliance (CoC), food business licence, etc. BLG members are welcome to suggest agenda items on licensing and regulatory matters affecting the trade.
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Government RepresentativesFood and Environmental Hygiene Department, Home Affairs Department, Buildings Department, Fire Services Department, Hong Kong Police Force, and Efficiency Office.
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Trade’s views are collected through various channels, including BLG meetings, online forms, e-mails and phone calls. The relevant meeting notes, summaries of trade’s views and the Government’s responses are tabulated below –
Meeting /
Trade's views
Date / Period Document Joint Meeting 12 Sep 2023 
Meeting notes (Chinese version only) Annex 1 (Chinese version only) Annex 2 (Chinese version only) Annex 3 (Chinese version only) Annex 4 (Chinese version only)Jan – Jun 2023 No trade's views were raised through this BLG
Jul – Dec 2022 Summary of trade's views and Government'sresponses (Chinese version only)
25 14 Dec 2022 Meeting notes (Chinese version only) Annex 1 (Chinese version only) Annex 2 (Chinese version only)Jan – Jun 2022 Summary of trade's views and Government'sresponses (Chinese version only)
Jul – Dec 2021 Summary of trade's views and Government'sresponses (Chinese version only)
24 2 Nov 2018 Meeting notes (Chinese version only) Annex 1 Annex 2 (Chinese version only) Annex 3 (Chinese version only) Annex 4 (Chinese version only) Annex 5 (Chinese version only)23 15 Aug 2017 Meeting notes (Chinese version only) Annex 1 (Chinese version only) Annex 2 Annex 322 7 Dec 2016 
Meeting notes (Chinese version only) Annex 1 (Chinese version only) Annex 2 (Chinese version only)21 5 May 2016 Meeting notes (Chinese version only) Annex 1 (Chinese version only) Annex 2 (Chinese version only)20 2 Oct 2015 Meeting notes (Chinese version only) Annex 1 (Chinese version only) Annex 2 (Chinese version only)19 29 Apr 2015 Meeting notes (Chinese version only) Annex 1 (Chinese version only) Annex 2 (Chinese version only) Annex 318 29 Oct 2014 Meeting notes (Chinese version only) Annex (Chinese version only)17 23 May 2014 Meeting notes (Chinese version only)16 18 Dec 2013 Meeting notes (Chinese version only) Annex 1 (Chinese version only) Annex 2 (Chinese version only)15 30 July 2013 Meeting notes (Chinese version only) Annex 1 (Chinese version only) Annex 2 (Chinese version only)14 28 Jan 2013 Meeting notes (Chinese version only) Annex (Chinese version only)If you would like to access Karaoke establishments, nightclubs, bars and other entertainment clubs BLG meeting notes/annex(es) issued before 2013, please contact us at bft@effo.gov.hk
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Highlight of Interesting Issues- If application for renewal of Certificate of Compliance (CoC) is made three months before expiry, the current CoC will remain valid until notice of the application result is issued by the Home Affairs Department (HAD).
- Operators may advertise the “Notice on Application for Liquor Licence” on newspapers immediately after submitting Liquor Licence application with sufficient information to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD).
- It is not necessary for the applicant of liquor licence to use his/her residential address in the advertisement of “Notice on Application for a Liquor Licence”. Any correspondence address except a Post Office Box Number is acceptable.
- Operators should not ignore the required improvement works on fire and building safety for karaoke establishments. However, the Fire Services Department (FSD) allows the operators to submit and adopt alternative methods, such as fire engineering approach and study reports, to comply with the fire safety requirements.
- Operators of a club occupying more than one storey may request HAD to specify in CoC the maximum number of persons allowed in each storey. Licensee of karaoke establishment should make arrangement for staff to receive a ‘train-the-trainer’ fire safety training course. Staff who has received certificate from the training course should provide fire safety training to other staff. It is not necessary for the trained staff to attend the training again when the karaoke establishment licence/permit is renewed.
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