The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department has ordered the Regal Riverside Hotel in Sha Tin to temporarily close its food premises for thorough disinfection, following reports of a cluster of food poisoning cases.

The Department of Health notified the department of two food poisoning outbreaks on July 8 and of two more outbreaks yesterday, all related to the hotel.

The Department of Health said at least 88 people were affected. Most of them had abdominal pain and diarrhea, symptoms compatible with food poisoning caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Investigations are underway and the number of people affected may go up.

The food premises will remain closed until disinfection is completed to the satisfaction of the Director of Food & Environmental Hygiene. They can be re-opened only when the director is fully satisfied that the immediate health hazard on the premises has been eliminated.

Under the Public Health & Municipal Services Ordinance, the director is empowered to close premises that pose an immediate health hazard to the public.