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Application Procedures
(A Guide to Application for Liquor Licences and Club Liquor Licences 📄)

Liquor Licence
Each applicant is required to complete one copy of an application form and return it with the following documents:
  1. a copy of the applicant's HKID Card;
  2. a copy of each of the business registration certificate of the restaurant and company (if the establishment under application is a limited company);
  3. 2 recent photographs (35mm x 40mm) of the applicant ;
  4. 3 copies of a plan showing the layout of the premises with clear indication of the area used for dancing (for applications with dancing endorsement only);
  5. a copy of the certificate of incorporation if the owner of the establishment under application is a corporation;
  6. a copy of the business registration certificate bearing the new shop sign (for change of shop sign of the establishment only);
  7. a copy of the amended business registration certificate in respect of the premises under application (for amendment of size of licensed premises); and
  8. 3 copies of a plan showing the layout of the premises with clear indication of the area included/deleted (for amendment of size of licensed premises).

    For liquor licence application in respect of the premises not under application for or covered by Restaurant Licence or Certificate of Compliance, please submit the following documents:

  9. 5 copies of identical proposed layout plans are required to show the layout of the premises including the portion for sale or supply of liquor and for consumption of liquor on the premises. Such plans should be drawn to scale (of not less than 1:100) in metric units;
  10. 3 copies of identical proposed ventilating system layout plans together with the Supplier Certificate are required if the ventilating system is installed in the premises. Such plans should be drawn to scale (of not less than 1:100) in metric units; and
  11. 3 copies of identical location maps drawn to scale of 1:1000, in metric units, are required to clearly indicate the location of the premises.

Club Liquor Licence

Application for a club liquor licence must be made by the secretary of the club. The licence shall be issued to the secretary of the club or a person nominated by the club.

Each applicant is required to complete one copy of an application form and return it with the following documents:

  1. If the club is established under the Societies Ordinance (Cap. 151) -
    1. a letter from the Societies Officer;
    2. a copy of the proposed licence holder's HKID Card;
    3. 2 recent photographs (35mm x 40mm) of the proposed licence holder;
    4. 3 copies of the certified true copy of the club rules;
    5. a copy of the minutes regarding the appointment of the club liquor licence holder;
    6. 2 copies of a layout plan of the club; and
    7. a copy of the documents showing the club's admission procedure for members, membership application form and membership card.
  2. If the club is a limited company incorporated under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622)-
    1. 3 copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the club;
    2. a certified true copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of the club;
    3. a certified true copy of the latest Annual Return of the club;
    4. a certified true copy of the resolution of the board of directors approving the appointment of the applicant to be the licensee if the application is approved and the adoption of the club rules;
    5. a copy of each the business registration certificate of the club and company;
    6. a copy of the proposed licence holder's HKID Card;
    7. 2 recent photographs (35mm x 40mm) of the proposed licence holder;
    8. 3 copies of the certified true copy of the club rules;
    9. 2 copies of a layout plan of the club; and
    10. a copy of documents showing the club's admission procedure for members, membership application form and membership card.
  3. If the club is a proprietary club operated by a limited company incorporated under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) -
    1. 3 copies of the Certificate of Incorporation of the limited company, of which one is certified true by the Company Registry;
    2. 3 copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the limited company;
    3. a certified true copy of the latest Annual Return of the limited company;
    4. a certified true copy of the resolution of the board of directors approving the establishment of the club specifying its name and address, the appointment of the applicant to be the licensee if the application is approved and the adoption of the club rules;
    5. a copy of the business registration certificate of the limited company;
    6. a copy of the branch registration certificate of the club;
    7. 3 copies of the certified true copy of the club rules;
    8. 2 recent photographs (35mm x 40mm) of the proposed licence holder;
    9. a copy of the proposed licence holder's HKID Card;
    10. 2 copies of a layout plan of the club; and
    11. a copy of documents showing the club's admission procedure for members, membership application form and membership card.

Processing of the Application
New Issue of Licence

After submission of an application, applicant may be required to attend an interview to be arranged by the Secretary, Liquor Licensing Board for the purpose of further verifying the information provided in the application form and other matters relating to the application.

All applications are referred to the Hong Kong Police Force and Home Affairs Department for comments.

Public opinion is also sought and this is done by placing an advertisement, at the applicant's expense, in three newspapers (other than in the classified advertisement column) in accordance with the requirements and standard format provided by the licensing offices. Upon receipt of the application, Liquor Licensing Board will post the notice on application for Liquor / Club Liquor Licence on its website.

For liquor licence application in respect of the premises not under application for or covered by Restaurant Licence or Certificate of Compliance

  • In addition to consulting the Hong Kong Police Force and Home Affairs Department, the application will be referred to Planning Department, Fire Services Department, Buildings Department/Independent Checking Unit under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Housing/ Architectural Services Department and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, etc. for comment.
  • Except for premises in Government properties or Housing Authority properties, certification made by recognised professional(s) (i.e. authorized persons/ structural engineers registered under Section 3 of the Buildings Ordinance (Cap.123)) certifying that the premises are free of unauthorized building works shall be submitted (in person or by mail) to Liquor Licensing Board in prescribed form (FEHB 267) as in accordance with the corresponding guidelines, where appropriate, listed as follows:
    1. "Certification of Food Business Premises Free of Unauthorized Building Works - Guidelines for Authorized Persons and Registered Structural Engineers" issued by the Director of Buildings
    2. "Certification of Food Business Premises Free of Unauthorized Building Works - Guidelines for Authorized Persons and Registered Structural Engineers (applicable to the properties divested to The Link Management Limited)" issued by the Independent Checking Unit under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Housing.
  • If a ventilating system is installed, the standard of ventilation shall be a supply of not less than 17 cubic metres of outside air per hour for each person accommodated on the premises.
  • It takes longer processing time than normal liquor licence applications.
Renewal & Amendment(s) of Licence

Application for renewal of a liquor licence or club liquor licence are required to be submitted to the respective Licensing Office not more than 4 months and not less than 3 months before the licence is due for renewal. Where the period of liquor licence or club liquor licence is 3 months, the application for renewal of the licence is required to be submitted not less than 2 months before the licence is due to renewal.

Application for amendment(s) of a liquor licence or club liquor licence is made usually for the following purposes-

  1. to change the shop sign of the licensed premises;
  2. to seek endorsement on the licence to operate a bar, dancing hall, etc.;
  3. extension of the licensed premises;
  4. (Only applicable to Hotels) Addition of a New Portion, which is not under Application for or covered by a Restaurant Licence or a Certificate of Compliance issued by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, to Licensed Premises; or
  5. any other specific reasons.

The process of both applications is similar to that of new issue of liquor licences.

For liquor licence application in respect of the premises not under application for or covered by Restaurant Licence or Certificate of Compliance.

  • In case of renewal of liquor licence, the Liquor Licensing Board will consult Fire Services Department on the compliance of fire safety requirements including submission of Certificate of Fire Service Installations and Equipment (F.S.251) and Annual Inspection Certificate of the premises.
  • In case of amendment of change of size of the premises, the application must be accompanied by 4 copies of identical layout plans and/or 3 copies of ventilation plans showing the proposed alteration(s) and/or addition(s) to the premises. Proposed layout/ventilation plan must be drawn in metric unit and in scale commonly used of not less than 1:100. The application will be referred to the Hong Kong Police Force, Home Affairs Department, Planning Department, Fire Services Department, Buildings Department/Independent Checking Unit under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Housing
    / Architectural Services Department etc. and government departments concerned for comment.
  • It will take longer processing time than normal liquor licence applications.
Transfer of Liquor Licence

The transferee applicant is required to complete an application form and return it to the Licensing Office together with the documents previously mentioned above.

The process of application is also similar to that of new issue of liquor licences.

For liquor licence application in respect of the premises not under application for or covered by Restaurant Licence or Certificate of Compliance

  • For transfer of liquor licence, except for premises in Government properties or Housing Authority properties, the transferee of an existing liquor licence is required to submit (in person or by mail) certification made by recognised professional(s) (i.e. authorized persons/ structural engineers registered under Section 3 of the Buildings Ordinance (Cap.123)) certifying that the premises are free of unauthorized building works to Liquor Licensing Board in prescribed form (FEHB 267) as in accordance with the corresponding guidelines listed in the application for new issue of liquor licence in respect of the premises.
  • It will take longer processing time than normal liquor licence applications.
Application Procedures under Reserve Licensee Mechanism
  • The Mechanism comprises of vetting application for nomination of reserve licensee and application of authorization of reserve licensee.
  • A person to be nominated as a reserve licensee should meet the "fit and proper person" criterion and not be a licence holder or reserve licensee of other liquor licensed premises.
  • The maximum period for authorization of the reserve licensee during the absence of the liquor licensee is capped at 25% of the number of days of the validity period of the liquor licence, and for a liquor licence with a validity period of more than one year, each period must not exceed 90 days (and the aggregate periods must not exceed 90 days within any 12 consecutive months in the validity period of the licence)

Application for Nomination of Reserve Licensee

  • An application for nomination of reserve licensee has to be submitted together with application for new issue / renewal / transfer of liquor licence. The application form for nomination of reserve licensee is attached at the Annex I/II of application form for new issue (FEHB 106/107), renewal (FEHB 106A/107A) and transfer (106B/107B) of liquor/club liquor licence. It is optional to apply for nomination of reserve licensee. An individual application for nomination of reserve licensee will not be processed.
  • All applications for nomination of reserve licensee are referred to the Police for comment. After seeking comments from the Police, the Secretary of Liquor Licensing Board will, in general, consider the application in about 8 weeks upon the approval to new issue / renewal/ transfer applications.
  • Not more than one application for nomination of reserve licensee should be submitted during the validity period of liquor licence except transfer application and in case of refusal of the first nomination application during the validity period of liquor licence.

Application for authorization of reserve licensee upon sudden departure of Licensee

  • Should there be a sudden departure of licensee, the licensee /owner / proprietor of liquor selling business is required to submit the following documents for authorization of the nominated reserve licensee to take over the role of the licensee at least 7 working days before the licensee's departure:
    1. an application for authorization of reserve licensee (FEHB 266A); and
    2. a declaration of reserve licensee's (FEHB 266B).
    [Note: In parallel, the concerned owner / proprietor should submit application of new issue / transfer of liquor licence as appropriate.]
  • Subject to the reserve licensee's self-declaration of not being an existing liquor licence holder and no change in criminal record subsequent to approval for nomination, the Secretary of Liquor Licensing Board will consider to grant approval-in-principle to the authorization of reserve licensee in 2 to 4 working days. At the same time, the application with the declaration will be referred to the Police for comment.
  • Upon receiving the comments of the Police, the Secretary will consider formally approve the authorization or revoke the approval-in-principle for authorization. The authorization will only take effect upon payment of a prescribed fee.
Application Procedures for Temporary absence of Licensee
  • In case of illness or temporary absence of the licensee, the licensee is required to submit an application for permission to authorise a person to manage the licensed premises at least 7 working days before the start date of temporary absence if leave period is not more than 30 days and 15 working days before the start date of temporary absence if leave period is more than 30 days. The application should be submitted to the respective Liquor Licensing Office together with the following documents:
    1. a recent photograph of the authorized person;
    2. a copy of the authorized person's HKID card or other identification document; and
    3. a copy of the leave approval letter from the company/ employer if the applied period is more than 10 days.
  • With a reserve licensee in place, the application form can be submitted at least 7 working days before start date of temporary absence.
  • The maximum period for authorization of a person to manage the licensed premises during temporary absence of the licensee is the same as that of reserve licensee mechanism.
Licensing Conditions for Liquor Licence
  1. No disorder shall be permitted on the premises.
  2. No person shall be allowed to become drunk on the premises, nor shall liquor be supplied to any person who is drunk.
  3. No games of chance shall be played on the premises.
  4. The licensee shall personally supervise the premises.
  5. The licensee shall display a warning notice at a conspicuous place inside the premises containing the words "NO LIQUOR FOR PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 18". In the said notice, the size of each Chinese character shall not be less than 3 cm (height) x 3 cm (width) and the size of each English letter shall not be less than 2 cm (height) x 2 cm (width).
  6. The licensee shall exhibit and keep exhibited a notice denoting its licensed status provided by the Board at the main entrance of the premises.
  7. The licensee shall not permit any person to occupy or use any portion of the premises for any immoral or illegal purpose.
  8. The licensee shall not permit any common prostitutes or reputed thieves to assemble or remain on the premises.
  9. The licensee shall not permit drunkenness, or violence, quarrel or other disorderly conduct on the premises and shall not permit persons of known bad character to assemble and remain on the premises.
  10. The name of any liquor for which a standard of quality is prescribed by regulations shall be clearly marked on the container in or from which the liquor is supplied to any customers.
  11. No bar business shall be operated on the premises, except with the permission of the Board endorsed herein.
  12. No dancing shall be permitted on the premises, except with the permission of the Board endorsed herein.
  13. Toilets shall be maintained in a state of cleanliness and good repair for the use of customers.
  14. Except exempted by the Board, the licensed premises shall be concurrently covered by a valid restaurant licence issued by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene.
Licensing Conditions for Club Liquor Licence
  1. No disorder shall be permitted on the club premises.
  2. No person shall be allowed to become drunk on the club premises, nor shall liquor be supplied to any person who is drunk.
  3. The licensee shall personally supervise the club premises.
  4. The licensee shall display a warning notice at a conspicuous place inside the club premises containing the words "NO LIQUOR FOR PERSON UNDER AGE 18". In the said notice, the size of each Chinese character shall not be less than 3 cm (height) x 3 cm (width) and the size of each English letter shall not be less than 2 cm (height) x 2 cm (width).
  5. The licensee shall exhibit and keep exhibited a notice denoting its licensed status provided by the Board at the main entrance of the club premises.
  6. The licensee shall not permit any person to occupy or use any portion of the club premises for any immoral or illegal purpose.
  7. The licensee shall not permit any common prostitutes or reputed thieves to assemble or remain on the club premises.
  8. The licensee shall not permit drunkenness, or violence, quarrel or other disorderly conduct on the club premises and shall not permit persons of known bad character to assemble and remain on the club premises.
  9. Toilets shall be maintained in a state of cleanliness and good repair for the use of members.
  10. Except exempted by the Board, the club liquor licence shall be concurrently covered by a valid Certificate of Compliance issued by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs.