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A woman was fined $9,740 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (January 11) for operating an unlicensed bedspace apartment in Mong Kok.
The court heard that in June last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed bedspace apartment in Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok. According to the OLA's records, the premises did not possess a valid certificate of exemption or a licence on the day of inspection. The female operator of the bedspace apartment was charged with contravening Section 5(1) of the Bedspace Apartment Ordinance.
A department spokesman stressed that it was a criminal offence to operate or manage an unlicensed bedspace apartment and enforcement action will continue to be taken against unlicensed bedspace apartments 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 illegal bedspace apartment operations to the OLA.
Ends/Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:34
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