*********************************************
One man was fined $30,000 and another man fined $5,000 at Kowloon City Magistrates' Court today (December 16) for managing unlicensed guesthouses and contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
The court heard that in July and August this year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected one suspected unlicensed guesthouse in Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Mong Kok, and a second in Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. OLA officers posed as lodgers and rented guestrooms on these premises.
According to OLA's records, the two guesthouses did not possess valid certificates of exemption or licences under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance on the day of inspection. Two men, responsible for managing the unlicensed guesthouses, were charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Hotel & 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 email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk) or download report form from the website www.hadla.gov.hk, to report any suspected unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA.
Ends/Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:33
NNNN
