Home Affairs Department and Hong Kong Police Force conduct joint operation in Yuen Long District (with photos)
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A spokesman for the HAD said, "During the operation, the OLA found one place of premises that was suspected of operating an unlicensed guesthouse. The OLA will follow up this case and will initiate prosecution if there is sufficient evidence after completion of the investigation."
The spokesman stressed, "Operating an unlicensed hotel/guesthouse is a criminal offence and it can lead to imprisonment as well as a criminal record upon conviction. According to the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance, an offender of an unlicensed hotel/guesthouse is liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and three years' imprisonment, and a fine of $20,000 for each day during which the offence continues. A six-month closure order may also be issued for the hotel/guesthouse involved in a repeated offence."
Tourists and members of the public can make use of the search functions on the OLA's website to check whether the hotel/guesthouse concerned is licensed or not. Any suspected unlicensed hotel/guesthouse should be reported to the OLA by the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805), or through the mobile application "Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses".
Ends/Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Issued at HKT 16:00
Issued at HKT 16:00
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