Some 14,000 inspections by the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department have resulted in 441 prosecutions in the past six weeks.

The department's Deputy Director Ingrid Yeung said today that officers will continue to adopt a zero-tolerance enforcement policy to ensure all food premises maintain a high level of cleanliness and good environmental hygiene.

Of the prosecutions, 205 were for uncovered food, 17 for dirty premises or food room, 69 for scullery and food preparation in public places, 15 for pest infestation and nine for dirty toilets.

Mrs Yeung said officers will further step up inspections and take prosecution action against every contravention of the law. They will also conduct surprise inspections at irregular hours.

In the wake of the recent cholera outbreak and other food-borne diseases, the department reminds the public to be cautious when patronising food premises, especially in summer.

Consumers are urged to patronise only clean restaurants that practice good hygiene.