Hong Kong Proposes Licensing Internet Cafes Under 2003 Code as Gaming Revival Raises Safety Risks
Updated
Updated · South China Morning Post · Jun 20
Hong Kong Proposes Licensing Internet Cafes Under 2003 Code as Gaming Revival Raises Safety Risks
1 articles · Updated · South China Morning Post · Jun 20
Summary
Hong Kong has proposed regulating internet cafes through a new licensing regime and plans a public consultation, marking a shift from the sector’s current voluntary oversight.
The move follows a revival in gaming-focused cafes, some offering overnight accommodation, which has sharpened concerns over fire and building safety, ventilation, public order and crime prevention.
Under one option, internet cafes would face the same rules as amusement and game centres; another would let venues seek exemption from licensing if they meet specified requirements.
The proposals would replace a 2003 voluntary code that set guidance but did not require operators to obtain licences or comply with enforceable standards.
The push reflects how internet cafes, once central to digital access before smartphones and laptops spread, are re-emerging in a form that regulators say needs tighter safeguards.