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A man was fined a total of $20,000 at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (April 19) for operating an unlicensed bedspace apartment in Sham Shui Po.
The court heard that officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department (HAD) successfully rented five bedspaces during raid at a unit in Apliu Street, Sham Shui Po, in June last year. The investigation team later found that there were 31 bedspaces and 12 other lodgers in the premises. Two of the lodgers at the scene claimed they were renting the bedspaces on a monthly basis.
The man, who was the owner and operator of the BSA, admitted that he operated a bedspace apartment without a valid certificate of exemption or a valid licence. He was subsequently charged for contravening Sections 5(1) and 6(a) of the Bedspace Apartment Ordinance.
An HAD spokesman reiterated that it was a criminal offence to operate or manage an unlicensed bedspace apartment.
He stressed that illegal bedspace apartments would not be tolerated and enforcement action would continue to be taken against them to ensure the safety of patrons of these establishments.
He also urged the public to report unlicensed bedspace apartments to the OLA by calling 2881 7498.
Ends/Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:46
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