Overview

According to the Karaoke Establishments Ordinance (Cap 573), "karaoke establishment" means, unless being exempted, any place opened, kept, or used for the purpose of karaoke by way of trade or business, whether or not the trade or business is carried on exclusively or in association or connection with any other trade or business activity and whether or not the place is a place to which the public have or are permitted to have access.

Depending on where it is situated, a new karaoke establishment must either apply for a permit or a licence before commencing operation -

1. If a karaoke establishment is situated at a licensed restaurant, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene is responsible for the grant of a karaoke establishment permit. Please refer to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's web site of http://www.fehd.gov.hk/english/forms/karaoke.pdf.
2. If a karaoke establishment is situated at a licensed hotel/guesthouse or a club-house issued with a licence/a certificate of compliance, the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs is responsible for the grant of a karaoke establishment permit.
3. If a karaoke establishment is situated at any premises, other than (a) or (b) above, in respect of which a business registration certificate has been issued, the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs is responsible for the issue of a karaoke establishment licence.

Any new establishments must apply for a permit/licence from relevant licensing authority before commencing operation. Validity periods of a permit/licence are 24 months and the permit/licence is subject to renewal upon its expiration. Holder of a permit/licence should apply for a renewal not less than 90 days prior to the expiry of the permit/licence. For details on application for a Permit/Licence, please refer to Guide to Application for a Permit or a Licence under Karaoke Establishments Ordinance (Cap. 573)(PDF).

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that his premises do comply with the lease conditions, Deed of Mutual Covenant and other regulations or laws of Hong Kong.

Application forms can be obtained from the Office of the Licensing Authority or downloaded from the Home Affairs Department's website http://www.had.gov.hk/en/public_forms/forms.htm. Completed forms, together with the prescribed fees, are to be returned to the address as stated on the application forms.