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Woman fined for managing unlicensed guesthouse
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     A woman was fined $3,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court today (February 22) 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 a suspected unlicensed guesthouse in Dundas Street, Mong Kok. An OLA officer posed as lodger and successfully rented a room in the guesthouse. According to the OLA's records, the guesthouse did not possess a valid certificate of exemption or a licence under the Ordinance on the day of inspection. The female manager of the 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. Any person who is convicted of 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 an 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 22, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:38

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