Illegal extension of business by shops is a street management problem which falls within the purview of a number of Government departments. The core function of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) is maintaining environmental hygiene.

The FEHD committed to assisting in handling obstruction caused by shops, will take enforcement action under relevant provisions of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132 and Summary Offences Ordinance, Cap. 228 having regard to the actual circumstances.

The level of fixed penalty against obstruction of public places is $6,000 with effective from 22 October 2023.

The Government amended the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Chapter 132) and other related legislation in 2025 to include provisions on illegal shopfront extension. After the new legislation came into effect on 17 August, 2025, FEHD officers can continue to issue fixed penalty notices under the Fixed Penalty (Public Cleanliness and Obstruction) Ordinance (Chapter 570) and require the relevant parties to remove the obstructing items within a specified time. If the obstructing items are still not removed by then, the FEHD has the power to remove the items.