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A man and a woman were fined $3,000 and $1,500 respectively at Tuen Mun Magistrates' Court today (April 9) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
The court heard that in January this year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse in Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long. OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented a room with accommodation facilities in the guesthouse.
According to the OLA's record, the premises did not possess a valid certificate or a licence under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance on the day of inspection. The male operator and the female keeper of the unlicensed guesthouse were charged with contravening Section 5(1) of the 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 e-mail (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk) or download a report form from the website (www.hadla.gov.hk) to report any suspected unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA.
Ends/Friday, April 9, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:01
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