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A woman was convicted of contravention of the Bedspace Apartments Ordinance and was fined $6,500 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court today (October 19).
The court heard that in April this year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department inspected some premises at Ma Tau Wai Road, Hung Hom and found that there were 12 bedspaces providing sleeping accommodation, and two of the bedspaces were being rented out at a monthly rate.
The woman admitted managing the bedspace apartment without a valid certificate of exemption or a valid licence and was subsequently charged under the Bedspace Apartments Ordinance.
An department spokesman stressed that it was a criminal offence to operate or manage an unlicensed bedspace apartment.
The spokesman said that unlicensed bedspace apartments would not be tolerated and enforcement action would continue to be taken against them to ensure the safety of lodgers.
He appealed to the public to report illegal bedspace apartments to the OLA on 2881 7498.
Ends/Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Issued at HKT 16:03
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