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A woman was fined $1,800 and a man $2,100 at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Court today (June 18) for operating and managing a guesthouse in Causeway Bay without a valid certificate of exemption or a licence.
The court heard that in August last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse in Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay. Various signboards of the guesthouse were found on the external wall and common corridor of the building where the guesthouse was located.
The officers, acting as lodgers, rented a room at the guesthouse and found six guestrooms, all provided with sleeping accommodation, in the premises. Two guests at the scene alleged that they had paid rent for a room on daily basis.
The woman admitted that she was the operator of the guesthouse and the man was in charge of the operation of the premises. According to the OLA's record, the two did not possess a valid certificate of exemption or licence to operate and manage the guesthouse. They were subsequently charged with contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
A department spokesman said that enforcement action would continue to be taken against unlicensed guesthouse operation to ensure the safety of lodgers. He appealed to the public to report unlicenced guesthouses to the OLA on 2881 7498.
Ends/Monday, June 18, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:00
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