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A man and three women were fined $2,000, $3,000, $5,000 and $3,000 respectively at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (October 12) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
The court heard that in August last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse in Reclamation Street, Mong Kok. During the investigation, an OLA officer posed as a lodger and successfully rented a room inside the guesthouse on a daily basis.
In February this year, OLA officers inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse in Tak Hing Street, Jordan. During the investigation, an OLA officer posed as a lodger and successfully rented a room inside the guesthouse on a daily basis. Later during the investigation, officers found nine rooms in the premises for rental.
According to the OLA's records, the guesthouses did not possess a valid certificate of exemption or a licence under the Ordinance on the day of inspection. The male and female managers of the guesthouses were charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance.
OLA officers also conducted an inspection in May this year on a licensed guesthouse in Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. During the investigation, OLA officers, posing as lodgers and assisted by the female manager of the licensed guesthouse, successfully rented a room on a daily basis in a premises situated in another building in Nathan Road. Later during the investigation, officers found 14 rooms in the premises for rental.
According to the OLA's records, the premises did not possess a valid certificate of exemption or a licence under the Ordinance on the day of inspection. The female manager of the licensed guesthouse was subsequently charged with contravening section 21(3)(b) of the Ordinance for managing a guesthouse in a premises other than the one indicated in the licence. The female manager of the unlicensed guesthouse was charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance.
A department spokesman stressed that it is a criminal offence to operate or manage an unlicensed guesthouse and enforcement action will 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 a report form from the website, www.hadla.gov.hk, to report any suspected unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA.
Ends/Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:44
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