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A man was fined $3,000 at The Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (November 19) for managing an unlicensed guesthouse in Yuen Long.
The court heard that in August this year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse in Yuen Long Main Road, Yuen Long. During the investigation, OLA officers found in the premises a guest register used for recording room rentals. The male manager later admitted that six rooms on the premises were for rental on a daily and hourly 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 manager of the guesthouse was 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/Friday, November 19, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:33
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