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A woman was convicted and fined $5,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court today (June 21) for managing a guesthouse in Mong Kok without a certificate of exemption or a licence.
The court heard that officers of the Home Affairs Department's (HAD) Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), inspected a unit on Mong Kok Road in January this year.
The investigating team saw several signboards of the guesthouse near the entrance and at the external wall of the building where the guesthouse was located. Seven guestrooms, all with sleeping and shower facilities, and some daily rental guests were found in the unit.
The woman admitted under caution that she was the management personnel of the unlicensed guesthouse and subsequently charged with contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
A department spokesman stressed that it was a criminal offence to operate or manage an unlicensed guesthouse.
The spokesman reiterated that illegal guesthouse would not be tolerated and enforcement action would be taken against them to ensure the safety of patrons of these establishments.
He also appealed to people to report unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA at 2881 7498.
Ends/Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:44
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