Police patrol a party district making sure bars are abiding by COVID-19 coronavirus restrictions in Hong Kong on Dec 24, 2020. (ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)

HONG KONG - The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the police inspected 38 bars on Friday and Saturday and ordered three shut for 14 days over violations of anti-COVID regulations.

The FEHD said in a statement that they also initiated prosecution actions against five bars and six catering premises after inspecting 521 catering establishments.

The FEHD and the police also issued fixed penalty notices to 57 customers and staff members of pubs and other catering premises

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They also issued fixed penalty notices to 57 customers and staff members of pubs and other catering premises.

An FEHD spokesman appealed to all sectors of the community to stay vigilant and comply with the regulations to prevent and control COVID-19, including requirements for the Red Code and Amber Code under the Vaccine Pass and for those joining banquets in these premises to take a rapid antigen test first.

The department noted that catering business owners who violate Vaccine Pass requirements can be fined HK$50,000 (US$6,370) and imprisoned for up to six months upon conviction. 

Customers who breach the limit on the number of persons per table and those not wearing a mask when they are not eating or drinking are also liable to a fixed penalty of HK$5,000, it added.

Hong Kong reported 8,278 new COVID-19 cases and 16 more deaths on Saturday.

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