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A man and a woman were each fined $3,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court today (March 21) after pleading guilty to managing two separate guesthouses in Mong Kok without a valid certificate of exemption or a licence.
The court heard that in October last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse on Prince Edward Road West and another on Lai Chi Kok Road, Mong Kok. A number of rooms, all provided with sleeping accommodation, and daily rental guests were found in both premises.
The man and woman, who were the keepers of the guesthouses, were subsequently charged with contravening Section 5 of the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
A department spokesman said that unlicensed guesthouse would not be tolerated and enforcement action would continue to be taken against them to ensure the safety of lodgers. He appeals to the public to report unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA on 2881 7498.
Ends/Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:31
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