10
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1991
HOTEL AND GUESTHOUSE LICENSING AUTHORITY BEGINS OPERATION
THE OFFICE OF THE LICENSING AUTHORITY WHICH LICENSING SCHEME OF HOTELS AND GUESTHOUSES WILL COME ON SATURDAY (JUNE 1).
ESTABLISHED UNDER THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES (CNTA), THE AUTHORITY IS LOCATED AT THE EAST WING, HENNESSY CENTRE, 500 HENNESSY ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY.
ADMINISTERS
THE
INTO OPERATION
ADMINISTRATION
SEVENTH FLOOR,
CERTIFICATE OF
IT WILL ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR A LICENCE OR A EXEMPTION FOR OPERATING HOTELS AND GUESTHOUSES FROM THAT DAY.
1991,
UNDER THE HOTEL AND GUESTHOUSE ACCOMMODATION ORDINANCE ALL HOTELS AND GUESTHOUSES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A VALID LICENCE OR A CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION FOR THEIR OPERATIONS, A CNTA SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
"MOTELS, YOUTH HOSTELS AND HOLIDAY FLATS ARE ALSO WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CONTROL UNDER THIS ORDINANCE.
'OPERATORS OF THESE EXISTING ACCOMMODATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER AND TO APPLY FOR A LICENCE OR A CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION FOR THEIR BUSINESS WITH THE LICENSING AUTHORITY WITHIN THREE MONTHS FROM THE DAY THE OFFICE OF THE LICENSING AUTHORITY COMMENCES OPERATION," HE SAID.
ANY PROPRIETOR WHO IGNORES THE NEW REGULATION WILL BE LIABLE TO A FINE OF $200,000 AND TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT.
SIMILAR
THE FEES PAYABLE FOR THE ISSUE OF A CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION IS $500 PER ANNUM FOR ALL TYPES OF HOTELS, GUESTHOUSES AND ESTABLISHMENTS.
BUT THE LICENCE FEE WILL BE ON A SLIDING SCALE BASED HOLDING CAPACITY IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF ROOMS.
ON
THE
"IT RANGES FROM A MINIMUM OF $3,000 FOR A HOTEL OR GUESTHOUSE WITH 10 ROOMS OR LESS TO A MAXIMUM OF $18,500 FOR THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS HAVING OVER 50 ROOMS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
**
BOTH THE LICENCE AND CERTIFICATE HAVE TO BE RENEWED ANNUALLY.
ALSO PROVIDED A
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE ORDINANCE CHANNEL OF APPEAL BY OPERATORS WHOSE APPLICATIONS WERE REJECTED BY THE LICENSING AUTHORITY.
"AN APPEAL BOARD, WHOSE MEMBERS WILL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, WILL BE SET UP TO REVIEW SUCH APPLICATIONS, HE SAID.
....
INFORMATION PAMPHLETS AND APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE OFFICE OF THE LICENSING AUTHORITY.
/TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES