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A man was fined $4,000 at Kowloon City Magistrates' Court today (July 28) for operating an unlicensed guesthouse in Sham Shui Po.
The court heard that in February this year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse in Apliu Street, Sham Shui Po. OLA officers posed as lodgers and rented a room in the guesthouse. Later during the investigation, officers found six rooms equipped with accommodation facilities in the premises.
According to the OLA's records, the guesthouse did not possess a valid certificate of exemption or a licence under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance on the day of inspection. The man, who admitted to being the operator of the guesthouse, was charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
A department spokesman stressed that it was a criminal offence to operate or manage an unlicensed guesthouse and enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal guesthouse operations to ensure the safety of lodgers.
He appealed to the public to dial the OLA hotline (2881 7498), send e-mail (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk) or download a report form from the website (www.hadla.gov.hk), to report any suspected unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA.
Ends/Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:34
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