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A woman was fined $3,300 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Court today (February 7) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
The court heard that in August last year, an officer of the Home Affairs Department's (HAD) Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), disguised as customer, rented a room of the guesthouse in KingĄ¯s Road, North Point for two weeks. The woman later claimed that she was the owner of the premises and admitted placing advertisements in newspaper for rental of rooms in the unit.
The OLA's records indicated that the premises operated as a guesthouse without a certificate of exemption or a licence. The woman was subsequently charged with contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
A Home Affairs Department spokesman said unlicensed guesthouse would not be tolerated and enforcement action would be taken against them to ensure the safety of patrons of these establishments. He appealed to the public to report unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA at 2881 7498.
Ends/Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 11:07
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