*********************************************
A man was today (February 17) convicted and fined $3,000 at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts for operating a guesthouse in Yuen Long 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 suspected unlicensed guesthouse in Yuen Long Main Road, Yuen Long in July last year.
Outside the building and at the main entrance of the premises, the investigation team saw several signboards showing the operation of the guesthouse. Seventeen rooms, all equipped for sleeping accommodation, were found in the premises and some lodgers at the scene alleged that they were tenants of the rooms.
The man, who was the operator of the unlicensed guesthouse, was subsequently charged with contravening Section 5(1) of the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
An HAD spokesman stressed that it was a criminal offence to operate or manage an unlicensed guesthouse.
The spokesman reiterated that unlicensed guesthouses 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 the public to report unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA on 2881 7498.
Ends/Friday, February 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:03
NNNN
