A woman was fined $8,000 at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (November 30) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
      
     The courts heard that in April this year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), the Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse on Tai Fung Street in Yuen Long. During the inspection, the OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented a room in the guesthouse on a daily basis.
      
     According to the OLA's records, the guesthouse did not possess a licence under the Ordinance on the day of inspection. The woman responsible for managing the premises was charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance.
      
     A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing an unlicensed guesthouse is a criminal offence and will lead to a criminal record. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and two years' imprisonment.
           
     The spokesman appealed to anyone with information about suspected unlicensed guesthouses to report it to the OLA through the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805) using the report form downloaded from the OLA website (www.hadla.gov.hk), or through the mobile application "Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses".

     The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, visited Sha Tin District this afternoon (November 30) to call at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) (Sha Tin) and the Jockey Club Home for Hospice. He also exchanged views with members of the Sha Tin District Council (STDC) on environmental issues.

     Accompanied by the District Officer (Sha Tin), Miss Amy Chan, Mr Wong first called at IVE (Sha Tin). The institute was awarded the Certificate of Merit in the 2012 Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence under the Public Organisations and Utilities Sector. IVE (Sha Tin) is implementing the Kids' Greenway project funded by the Environment and Conservation Fund and the Environmental Campaign Committee to nurture the environmental awareness of young children through the provision of teaching packs to spread the "use less, waste less" message at the pre-primary level. Mr Wong also visited its Environmental Education Centre and encouraged students to put their learning into practice by applying professional knowledge in waste and carbon reduction initiatives, in order to support the "dump less, save more" initiative, as well as contributing to Hong Kong's sustainable development and combating global climate change.

     Mr Wong then departed for the Jockey Club Home for Hospice to understand more about its services and tour its facilities. He also chatted with the staff there to know more about their work.

     Before concluding his itinerary, Mr Wong paid a visit to the STDC to meet with its Chairman, Mr Ho Hau-cheung, and members to listen to their views on the Government's environmental policies and learn more about their concerns on district environmental issues.

Police today (November 30) laid a holding charge against a 57-year-old man with one count of murder.

The man was arrested on November 28 in suspected connection with a murder case happened in Sham Shui Po on the same day in which his 40-year-old wife died.

The case was mentioned at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today.

     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, reviewed the 184th Fire Services passing-out parade for six station officers, 72 firemen and 41 ambulancemen at the Fire and Ambulance Services Academy today (November 30).

     Speaking at the parade, Ms Cheng commended the Fire Services personnel for displaying exemplary bravery and determination in handling major incidents swiftly when Super Typhoon Mangkhut hit Hong Kong in September this year. They are acclaimed for their efforts to save the public in dangerous and difficult situations, showing that the Fire Services Department (FSD) is an efficient and dedicated professional team.

     This year marked the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the FSD. With the development and transformation over one and a half centuries, the FSD has established a number of specialist teams to handle different types of incidents and provide comprehensive rescue services to the people of Hong Kong, she said.

     The parade was followed by a demonstration of firefighting and rescue techniques by the graduates. The 119 graduates will be posted to various fire stations and ambulance depots.

          

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) and its Committees will hold 17 open meetings and a closed meeting during the week from December 3 to 7 in the LegCo Complex. Details of the meetings are available in the meeting schedule attached.
 
     The information in the meeting schedule is subject to change.  Please refer to the "LegCo Calendar" on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk) for the latest details of meetings.
 
     Members of the public are welcome to observe open meetings of LegCo and its Committees. Interested individuals and groups are advised to make advance booking of seats by calling the LegCo Secretariat at 3919 3399 during office hours. Members of the public can also listen to or watch all open meetings via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website.