******************************************************
A large number of tourists will come to Hong Kong to spend their Lunar New Year holidays. Further to the enhanced enforcement actions carried out earlier during the Christmas and New Year holidays, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department (HAD) will step up operations during the coming Lunar New Year holidays to crack down on illegal guesthouses so as to ensure the safety of patrons and the general public.
A spokesman for the HAD said, "The OLA will conduct surprise inspections, decoy operations and large-scale inter-departmental joint operations in tourist accommodation hotspots including those for which tourists make reservations online. The operations will be mounted day and night and during the public holidays."
He stressed that operating an unlicensed guesthouse is a criminal offence and will lead to a criminal record. Upon conviction, an offender is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000, two years' imprisonment and a fine of $20,000 for each day during which the offence continues.
Noting that more and more unlicensed guesthouses publicise and let out sleeping accommodation through the Internet or mobile applications, the dedicated team of the OLA has strengthened its intelligence collection and enforcement capability. The team browses webpages, mobile applications and social media, as well as discussion forums and blogs, to track down suspected unlicensed guesthouse activities and posts messages on the Internet to appeal to tourists to patronise licensed guesthouses. Moreover, the OLA has made it very clear in writing to the websites concerned from time to time that a licence is required for guesthouse operation in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong. The responsible persons of such websites have been reminded not to post the information of unlicensed guesthouses and to encourage their users to patronise licensed guesthouses. The OLA will continue to closely monitor suspected unlicensed guesthouses which solicit business through the online platforms or mobile applications and proactively take the necessary enforcement actions.
During the past four weeks, the OLA also stepped up enforcement actions and conducted inspections in various districts throughout the territory. Among the 286 premises inspected, 13 were suspected to have unlicensed guesthouse activities. The OLA is examining the evidence gathered and prosecution will be instituted immediately if there is sufficient evidence that the premises concerned are involved in such illegal activities. One person suspected of breaching conditions of stay was found during the inspections and the case has been referred to the Police for follow-up action.
On Christmas Day, the OLA mounted a series of enforcement actions against illegal activities of letting out unlicensed accommodation through the Internet. The OLA conducted surprise inspections at a number of suspected unlicensed premises renting out accommodation through home-sharing online platforms. During the operation, the OLA distributed pamphlets, advised the tourists to patronise licensed guesthouses, and encouraged the residents to report any unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA.
In 2015, the OLA carried out 13 188 inspections targeting unlicensed guesthouses and instituted 149 prosecutions. The total number of convictions was 132, among which some were related to unlicensed guesthouses offered through online platforms. Sixteen of the convicted persons were sentenced to imprisonment and the maximum penalty was two months' immediate imprisonment. This demonstrates the OLA's determination and the effectiveness of its enhanced measures against unlicensed guesthouse operation.
In addition, the OLA will continue to step up publicity efforts to urge tourists to patronise licensed guesthouses via different channels such as broadcasting Announcements in the Public Interest on TV, radio and public transportation, at immigration control points and on outdoor LED TV panels in tourist accommodation hotspots, and displaying posters and distributing leaflets at the immigration control points. The OLA will also continue to enhance the promotion at different websites, mobile applications and YouTube, and work closely with the Tourism Commission, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong and the Consumer Council to appeal to tourists to patronise licensed hotels and guesthouses.
The spokesman appealed to tourists and the public with information about suspected unlicensed guesthouses to report it to the OLA through the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805) using the report form downloaded from the OLA website (www.hadla.gov.hk), or through the mobile application "Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses".
Ends/Thursday, January 14, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:57
NNNN
