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Kowloon City Magistrates' Court today (April 30) found a woman guilty of illegally managing a guesthouse in Mong Kok and fined her $1,000.
The court heard that officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, conducted an investigation on a premises at Reclamation Street, Mong Kok, last October. The officers, disguised as customers, successfully rented a room on a daily basis and found seven rooms equipped with sleeping accommodation on the premises. The woman, who was the keeper of the guesthouse, admitted that the premises was an unlicensed guesthouse.
According to OLA's record, the premises did not have a valid certificate of exemption or a licence as required under Section 5(2) of the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance on the inspection day.
A department spokesman said it was a criminal offence to operate unlicensed guesthouses and that enforcement action would continue to be taken against them to ensure the safety of lodgers. He also appealed to the public to report unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA on 2881 7498.
Ends/Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:31
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