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A company and an individual were fined $3,000 and $2,000 respectively at the Eastern Magistrate' Court today (November 13) for operating and managing a guesthouse on Lamma Island without a valid certificate of exemption or a licence.
The Court heard that in April this year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse in Yung Shue Wan Main Street, Lamma Island. A signboard of the guesthouse was found near the premises.
The individual admitted that he was the manager of the guesthouse and that seven compartments, all consisting of sleeping accommodation, inside the premises were available for rent.
According to the OLA's record, the company, which was the guesthouse operator, as well as the man did not possess a valid certificate of exemption or license to operate and manage the guesthouse. Both were 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/Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:00
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