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A man was fined $2,000 at The Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (November 16) for operating an unlicensed guesthouse in Cheung Chau. The two female managers of the unlicensed guesthouse were also fined $2,000 respectively.
The court heard that in September this year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse in Praya Street, Cheung Chau. OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented a room inside the guesthouse on a daily basis.
According to the OLA's records, the guesthouse did not possess a valid certificate of exemption or a license under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance on the day of inspection. The male operator and the two female managers of the guesthouse were charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
A department spokesman stressed that it was a criminal offence to operate or manage an unlicensed guesthouse, and enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal guesthouse operations to ensure the safety of lodgers.
He appealed to the public to dial the OLA hotline (2881 7498), send e-mail (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk) or download a report form from the website, www.hadla.gov.hk, to report any suspected unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA.
Ends/Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:03
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