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A man who managed an unlicensed guesthouse in Tsuen Wan was fined $4,500 at Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Courts today (May 8) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
The court heard that officers of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an investigation on the premises at Market Street, Tsuen Wan, last October. They found that the premises was sub-divided into three rooms equipped with sleeping accommodation. All the rooms were rented out at the time of investigation. The man, who was the sole proprietor of the premises, admitted that the guesthouse was operating without a valid licence and had received a warning letter from the OLA last August.
Records of the OLA revealed that the premises did not possess a certificate of exemption or a licence as required under Section 5(2) of the ordinance on the day of inspection.
A spokesman for the department said the department would continue to take strict enforcement action against illegal guesthouse operation. He also appealed to the public to report unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA on 2881 7498.
Ends/Thursday, May 8, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:36
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