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A man contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance was today (April 27) fined $4,500 at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Court.
The court heard that officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse in Yuen Long Main Road last November and located several signboards of the guesthouse at the entrances to the building.
The man admitted that he was responsible for managing the guesthouse and 14 guest rooms in the premises were available for rent on hourly or daily basis.
The OLA's record showed that the premises did not possess a certificate of exemption or a licence as required under Section 5(2) of the ordinance. The man was subsequently charged with operating unlicensed guesthouse.
A department spokesman said it was a criminal offence to operate or manage an unlicensed guesthouse and enforcement action would continue to be taken against them to ensure the safety of lodgers. He also appealed to the public to report unlicensed guesthouses to the OLA on 2881 7498.
Ends/Friday, April 27, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:56
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