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A man was fined $5,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Court today (January 26) after pleading guilty to a charge of keeping a guesthouse in Causeway Bay without a certificate of exemption or a license as required under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance (HAGAO).
The court heard that in April last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, conducted a joint operation with Police against an unlicensed guesthouse in Paterson Street, Causeway Bay. They found four rooms equipped with sleeping accommodation and occupied by daily rental guests.
The operator admitted that he was responsible for keeping the guesthouse and was subsequently charged with contravening Section 5 of HAGAO.
A Home Affairs Department spokesman said it was a criminal offence to operate or manage an unlicensed guesthouse.
He said unlicensed guesthouses would not be tolerated and enforcement action would continue to be taken against them to ensure the safety of lodgers.
He appealed to people to report unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA on 2881 7498.
Ends/Thursday, January 26, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:46
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