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Three women and one man were fined $10,000, $5,000, $2,000 and $4,000 respectively at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court today (February 15) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
The court heard that in November last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected two suspected unlicensed guesthouses in Nathan Road and Bute Street, Mong Kok, respectively. OLA officers posed as lodgers and rented two rooms in the two guesthouses on a daily basis. Later during the investigation, officers found six rooms on the premises in Nathan Road and nine rooms on the premises in Bute Street for rental.
According to the OLA's records, the two guesthouses did not possess a valid certificate of exemption or a license under the Ordinance on the day of inspection. The female operator of the guesthouse in Nathan Road and the female manager of the guesthouse in Bute Street were charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance. They were fined $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.
In addition, the OLA officers inspected a licensed guesthouse in Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Shui, in September last year and found that the guesthouse was operated under a name other than the name indicated in the license. A woman, being the license holder, was charged with contravening section 21(3) (c) of the Ordinance and fined $2,000.
The OLA officers also inspected another licensed guesthouse in Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Shui, in July last year and found that the exit route in the guesthouse was blocked. A man, being the license holder, was charged with contravening section 21(3) (a) of the Ordinance and fined $4,000.
A department spokesman stressed that it is a criminal offence to operate or manage an unlicensed guesthouse. Any person who is convicted for operating an unlicensed guesthouse is liable to imprisonment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a $200,000 fine and imprisonment for two years.
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, February 15, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:31
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