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A man was fined $5,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (February 16) for managing an unlicensed guesthouse in Mong Kok.
The court heard that in November last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse in Portland Street, Mong Kok. OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented a room in the guesthouse on an hourly basis. Later during the investigation, officers found 12 rooms in the premises for rental.
According to the OLA's records, the guesthouse did not possess a valid certificate of exemption or a licence under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance on the day of inspection. The male manager of the guesthouse was charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Hotel and 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 call 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/Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:00
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