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A guesthouse keeper was fined $5,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance today (October 4).
The court heard that officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, issued a warning letter in May this year to a guesthouse operator in Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei for immediate cessation of its unlicensed operation.
In June, the investigation team conducted another inspection of the premises and located a signboard of the guesthouse adjacent to the main entrance of the unit. Six rooms, all with sleeping and shower facilities, and some daily rental guests were subsequently found in the premises.
The woman, who was the keeper of the unlicensed guesthouse, was charged with managing a guesthouse without a certificate of exemption or a licence.
A department spokesman stressed that it was a criminal offence to operate or manage an unlicensed guesthouse.
The spokesman reiterated that unlicensed guesthouses would not be tolerated and enforcement action would be taken against them to ensure the safety of patrons of these establishments.
He also appealed to the public to report unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA at 2881 7498.
Ends/Wednesday, October 4, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:56
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