Restaurants & licensing
Hong Kong RFE scheme: choosing a route for restaurant licensing
Applying for a food-business licence? A Registered Fire Engineer (RFE) and a fire-installation contractor have different roles. Understand the assessment option and who will handle drawings, works and certification before appointing your team.
Quick answers
How do I arrange installation work and RFE certification?
Start with your application stage, then check the registrations and fees needed for the installation work and RFE certification. We can review the fire works and help you identify the professionals to appoint.
Legal information
Requirements vary by premises. Confirm the work with the responsible professional using the premises use, approved plans, licence conditions and any written directions.
Check whether your premises are covered
The RFE scheme launched on 1 November 2025. Its first phase covers licence applications for general and light refreshment restaurants, factory canteens, composite food shops and food factories, including bakeries.
FSD continues to offer its assessment and certification services. Before selecting a route, explain your licence category and current application stage, then clarify which work the proposed appointment will cover.
Who handles assessment, installation and licensing?
RFE registration has separate classes for risk assessment, fire service installations and ventilation systems. Installation work and inspections require a contractor with the appropriate registration. Check the qualifications needed for each part of the appointment.
Ask who will carry out the assessment, prepare drawings, install equipment, test it and provide certificates. Include these responsibilities in the quotation. The licensing authority makes the final licence decision.
Compare the work and fees included
Send the issued fire requirements, latest layout and progress photos when asking for a quote. Request a list of outstanding work and the charges for certification, drawing changes, repairs and further inspections so you can budget for the project.
If the fit-out is still being designed, share the proposed fuel, seating and kitchen arrangements. Coordinate equipment purchases with the assessment programme so unresolved requirements are checked before installation.
Practical checklist
- Identify the food-business licence category
- Collect issued requirements and application status
- Verify the appointed professional's registration class
- Separate assessment, works and certification fees
- Agree document handover and reinspection arrangements
Discuss fire works for your restaurant licence
Tell us the licence category and application stage. Existing fire requirements and drawings help us define the installation scope.
- Review existing installations and proposed changes
- Clarify responsibilities with engineers and fit-out teams
- Arrange a survey and quote for the agreed scope
Official sources
The official documents below provide the full requirements and any updates.
Related reading
Restaurant fire safety in Hong Kong: planning, fit-out and licensing
What fire work does a restaurant need? Prepare the premises details, cooking plan, issued requirements and inspection records before arranging a survey and quotation.
Read articleRFSIC Classes 1, 2 and 3: checking the right contractor scope
Before appointing a fire contractor, check the registered entity, class and installation type. The classes define work scope, not a ranking of service quality.
Read articleHong Kong FS251 certificate: annual inspection & forms
FS251 is Hong Kong’s fire installation certificate. Check the 12-month inspection rule, due dates, official forms, equipment codes and online submission.
Read articleRELATED SERVICE
Arrange a restaurant fire-services survey and quote
Explore the service, or email or call us to ask about your premises.
Discuss the work your premises need
Share the premises, proposed scope and timing. For tender enquiries, include the brief and submission deadline. Available drawings and recent reports help us review the work; you can contact us before everything is ready.
Project and tender enquiries