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Unlicensed guesthouse keeper fined
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    A woman was convicted and fined $10,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (June 14) for managing a guesthouse in Mong Kok without a valid certificate of exemption or a licence.

     The court heard that in December last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority(OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected two premises in Sai Yeung Choi Street, Mong Kok.

     OLA staff found several signboards of the guesthouse at the entrance and corridor of the building where the guesthouse was located. Eight rooms, each equipped with sleeping accommodation, were found in the two flats and a daily rental guest alleged that he had rented the room.
 
     The woman, who was the management personnel of the unlicensed guesthouse, was subsequently charged with contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.

     A department spokesman stressed that it was a criminal offence to operate or manage an unlicensed guesthouse.

     The spokesman said that unlicensed guesthouse would not be tolerated and enforcement action would be taken against them to ensure the safety of patrons of these establishments.

     He also appealed to the public to report unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA at 2881 7498.

Ends/Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:20

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