Liquor Licence Application (Hong Kong)

A Liquor Licence Application in Hong Kong sets out the particulars an applicant must provide to obtain the approval concerned.

The Liquor Licensing Board is a statutory body established under Section 17 of Cap. 109, whose members are appointed by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Board meets monthly at its Secretariat located at the Immigration Tower, Wan Chai, to hear applications for new licences, renewals, transfers, modifications, and disciplinary matters. Applications must be submitted to the Secretariat at least 42 days before the targeted Board hearing date to allow the mandatory 42-day public notice period for objections under Section 8 of Cap. 109B. Objections may be lodged by members of the public, District Councillors, the Hong Kong Police Force, or the Customs and Excise Department, and each objection must be considered by the Board.

The licensing regime covers the full spectrum of alcohol-related businesses operating in Hong Kong. Major hotel groups — including the Peninsula Hong Kong, Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, Grand Hyatt, Island Shangri-La, and Ritz-Carlton — hold Hotel Liquor Licences under Cap. 109B permitting alcohol service throughout their properties. Restaurants and bars in Hong Kong's dining and entertainment districts — Lan Kwai Fong in Central, Wan Chai, Soho in Sheung Wan, and Knutsford Terrace in Tsim Sha Tsui — hold Restaurant Liquor Licences authorising on-premises alcohol service during permitted hours (typically 11:00 am to 2:00 am). Supermarket chains including ParknShop, Wellcome, and CitySuper, convenience retailers including 7-Eleven, and specialist wine merchants and off-licences, hold Retail Liquor Licences permitting sale for off-premises consumption.

The application process requires co-ordination with several other regulatory bodies. Premises must hold or be obtaining a Food Business Licence from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) under the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X) for Restaurant Liquor Licence applications. Approved floor plans from the Buildings Department under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) must be submitted. Fire safety clearance from the Fire Services Department under the Fire Services Ordinance (Cap. 95) — confirming adequate means of escape and fire-fighting equipment — is mandatory. Compliance with the Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400) is an ongoing licence condition monitored by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), particularly for premises operating after 11:00 pm in residential areas.

Decisions of the Liquor Licensing Board — including refusals, conditions, and revocations — may be appealed to the Administrative Appeals Board established under the Administrative Appeals Board Ordinance (Cap. 442) within 14 days of the Board's decision. Further appeal lies to the Court of First Instance of the High Court by way of judicial review.

The Customs and Excise Department is the primary enforcement agency for liquor licensing offences in Hong Kong and conducts routine inspections of licensed premises across all 18 districts. Licence conditions are displayed in the premises and checked during inspections. Forms-legal.com provides a Liquor Licence Application template designed to help Hong Kong food and beverage operators, event organisers, and retail businesses prepare the foundational documents required for their Liquor Licensing Board submission.

A Liquor Licence Application in Hong Kong is required whenever a business or individual intends to sell, supply, manufacture, or import intoxicating liquor for sale in Hong Kong — any such activity without a valid licence issued by the Liquor Licensing Board constitutes a criminal offence under Section 31 of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), punishable by fines up to HK$1,000,000 and imprisonment for up to 2 years.

New restaurant, bar, and food and beverage openings are the most common trigger for a liquor licence application. Any operator of a licensed restaurant under the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X) who wishes to serve alcohol must obtain a Restaurant Liquor Licence from the Liquor Licensing Board before the first day of operation. The timing of the liquor licence application must be carefully co-ordinated with the Food Business Licence application to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the Buildings Department’s approval of fit-out plans under Cap. 123, and the Fire Services Department clearance under Cap. 95. The 42-day public notice period for objections means applications should be submitted at least 3 months before the intended opening date to allow for Board processing and potential objections.

Hotel operators seeking to serve alcohol in restaurants, bars, in-room minibars, and banqueting facilities require a Hotel Liquor Licence under Cap. 109B. Hotels registered under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance (Cap. 349) typically apply for their liquor licence concurrently with their hotel registration to align commencement dates.

Supermarkets, convenience stores, wine merchants, and off-licences selling packaged alcohol for off-premises consumption require a Retail Liquor Licence under Cap. 109B. Major retail chains — ParknShop, Wellcome, CitySuper, and 7-Eleven — maintain individual Retail Liquor Licences for each licensed branch location, as the licence is premises-specific.

Event organisers planning outdoor festivals, corporate events, charity fundraising dinners, film premieres, or pop-up bars with alcohol service at temporary venues require a Temporary Liquor Licence under Cap. 109B, which can be granted for a specified event period without going through the full Board hearing process applicable to permanent licences. Event applications must be submitted well in advance.

Transfers of existing licensed businesses require a formal transfer application to the Liquor Licensing Board. A new owner of a restaurant, bar, or hotel must apply for a licence transfer or new licence before commencing alcohol sales — operating under the previous licensee’s licence without Board approval is a breach of licence conditions under Cap. 109B and may result in prosecution and licence revocation.

Chinese medicine practitioners, registered pharmacists, and others who handle medicinal preparations containing alcohol as a component are generally exempt from the licensing requirement for those specific products, but should confirm their exempt status with the Customs and Excise Department before commencing any alcohol-containing sales.

A Hong Kong Liquor Licence Application to the Liquor Licensing Board under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109) and the Dutiable Commodities (Liquor) Regulations (Cap. 109B) must include the following key elements and supporting documents.

Applicant identification: For individual applicants, the full legal name and Hong Kong identity card number. For corporate applicants, the company name, Companies Registry (Cap. 622) registration number, current Business Registration Certificate number issued by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), a certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation, and full details of the responsible person — the individual who will be personally responsible to the Liquor Licensing Board for compliance with all licence conditions. The responsible person must be ordinarily resident in Hong Kong and hold a valid Hong Kong identity card.

Type of licence: The specific licence category sought — Restaurant Liquor Licence, Retail Liquor Licence, Hotel Liquor Licence, Club Liquor Licence, Manufacturer’s Licence, Wholesale Dealer’s Licence, or Temporary Liquor Licence — as defined in Schedule 1 to Cap. 109B. Each category carries different permitted hours, areas of service, and conditions.

Premises details: The full address of the licensed premises, the total floor area, and a detailed site plan and floor plan prepared by a registered architect or surveyor and approved by the Buildings Department under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123). The floor plan must clearly delineate the area within which intoxicating liquor will be sold, supplied, or consumed. For restaurant premises, the total seating capacity must be indicated.

Food Business Licence: A copy of the valid Food Business Licence issued by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) under the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X), or written confirmation that a Food Business Licence application is currently pending (required for all Restaurant Liquor Licence applications). A Restaurant Liquor Licence will not be granted unless the premises are authorised for food business use.

Right of occupancy: A copy of the signed tenancy agreement, Licence to Occupy, or title documents confirming the applicant’s legal right to occupy the premises for the full proposed licence period. The Liquor Licensing Board requires confirmation that the applicant has occupation rights before granting the licence.

Fire safety compliance: Written confirmation from the Fire Services Department under the Fire Services Ordinance (Cap. 95) that the premises meet fire safety requirements — including adequate means of escape certified under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123), fire-fighting equipment, and fire service installations.

Noise control: For premises proposing to operate after 11:00 pm, documentary evidence of compliance with the Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400) and the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) regulations may be required as a licence condition.

Public notice: Certified copies of the public notice published in both Chinese and English language newspapers approved by the Liquor Licensing Board, and a notice posted conspicuously at the premises entrance, giving the public a mandatory 42-day period under Section 8 of Cap. 109B to lodge objections with the Board.

Prescribed fee: The application fee payable to the Government of the Hong Kong SAR as specified in Schedule 2 to Cap. 109B, which varies by licence category and duration.

Additional documents: Written consent from the management corporation or owners’ corporation of the building if required by the Deed of Mutual Covenant; proof of exemption from planning requirements under the Town Planning Ordinance (Cap. 131) where applicable; and details of any alcohol import licences required under Cap. 109 for imported liquor products.

Forms-legal.com provides the template to assemble these elements into a complete Hong Kong Liquor Licence Application package for submission to the Liquor Licensing Board Secretariat at Immigration Tower, Wan Chai.

Applying for a Liquor Licence in Hong Kong requires submitting a prescribed application to the Liquor Licensing Board Secretariat at least 42 days before the Board hearing at which the application will be considered, after completing all mandatory prerequisite steps.

Step 1 — Obtain the official application form. Contact the Liquor Licensing Board Secretariat, located at the Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, to obtain the current prescribed application form for the licence category sought. The main categories under the Dutiable Commodities (Liquor) Regulations (Cap. 109B) are: Restaurant Liquor Licence, Retail Liquor Licence, Hotel Liquor Licence, Club Liquor Licence, Wholesale Dealer's Licence, and Temporary Liquor Licence.

Step 2 — Secure prerequisite licences and approvals. For Restaurant Liquor Licences, the premises must hold or be in the process of obtaining a valid Food Business Licence from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) under the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X). Obtain approved floor plans and site plans from the Buildings Department under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123). Secure fire safety confirmation from the Fire Services Department under the Fire Services Ordinance (Cap. 95). These approvals must be in hand before the Board will consider the liquor licence application.

Step 3 — Complete the applicant particulars section. For individual applicants, enter full legal name and HKID number. For corporate applicants, enter the company name, Companies Registry number under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), Business Registration Certificate number, and full details of the responsible person — the individual personally responsible to the Board for licence compliance — who must be ordinarily resident in Hong Kong. Attach certified copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and the current Business Registration Certificate.

Step 4 — Describe the premises and licence scope. Specify the full premises address, total floor area, and seating capacity (for restaurants). Reference the approved floor plan to delineate precisely the area within which liquor will be sold or consumed. State the requested permitted hours and the nature of the operation (dine-in restaurant, off-licence retail, hotel bar service, and so on).

Step 5 — Attach supporting documents. Assemble the required documents in one complete package: copy of the signed tenancy agreement or title documents confirming occupancy rights; copy of the Food Business Licence (or pending application acknowledgement); the Buildings Department-approved floor plan; the fire safety clearance letter; and, where the building has an owners' corporation, written consent from the management corporation. For hotel applicants, include the hotel registration under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance (Cap. 349).

Step 6 — Publish the mandatory public notice. Under Section 8 of Cap. 109B, the applicant must publish a notice of the application in both a Chinese-language and an English-language newspaper approved by the Board, and post the notice conspicuously at the premises entrance. The 42-day objection period runs from the date of first publication. Obtain certified copies of the newspaper notices as evidence of publication.

Step 7 — Calculate and pay the prescribed fee. The application fee is set out in Schedule 2 to Cap. 109B and varies by licence category and duration. Payment is to the Hong Kong SAR Government; confirm the accepted payment method with the Secretariat.

Step 8 — Lodge the complete application package. Submit the completed form, all supporting documents, certified newspaper notices, and fee payment to the Liquor Licensing Board Secretariat at least 42 days before the targeted Board hearing date. Request a dated acknowledgement of receipt. The Board typically meets monthly; an application without objections is usually decided within six to ten weeks of submission.

Penalties. Selling or supplying intoxicating liquor without a valid licence is a criminal offence under Section 31 of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), carrying fines up to HK$1,000,000 and imprisonment of up to two years on indictment.

Record retention. Keep copies of the complete application, all correspondence, the Board's decision notice, and the issued licence for the full licence period and for at least two years after expiry or transfer.