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Operation 'Solar Flare' Targets Unlicensed Hotels Ahead of Chinese New Year in Hong Kong

HK

Operation 'Solar Flare' Targets Unlicensed Hotels Ahead of Chinese New Year in Hong Kong
HK

HK

Operation 'Solar Flare' Targets Unlicensed Hotels Ahead of Chinese New Year in Hong Kong

2025-01-17 18:50 Last Updated At:18:58

Office of Licensing Authority of Home Affairs Department steps up enforcement actions against unlicensed hotels/guesthouses before Chinese New Year holidays

​Before the Chinese New Year holidays, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an operation codenamed "Solar Flare" against suspected unlicensed hotels and guesthouses at Yau Tsim Mong District for three consecutive days from January 14 to 16 to ensure the safety of lodgers as well as the general public.

A spokesman for the OLA said, "Based on intelligence gathered, the OLA carried out surprise inspections on six premises. All six premises were suspected of operating unlicensed hotels or guesthouses. The OLA will initiate prosecution on cases with sufficient evidence after completion of the investigation."

The spokesman stressed, "Operating unlicensed hotels or guesthouses is a criminal offence, and such an offence leads to a criminal record upon conviction. According to the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance, an offender is liable to three years' imprisonment and a maximum fine of $500,000. A fine of $20,000 for each day can also be imposed during which the offence continues. A six-month closure order may also be issued for a hotel or guesthouse involved in a repeated offence."

Apart from conducting special operations during festive seasons, the OLA also steps up efforts to combat unlicensed guesthouses via online platforms. The OLA has strengthened its intelligence collection by forming a dedicated team to browse webpages, mobile applications, social media, discussion forums, etc, to search for information and intelligence on suspected unlicensed guesthouses. The OLA's law enforcement officers will initiate follow-up investigations when information on unlicensed guesthousesadvertised via online platforms is found. The OLA also conducts publicity work on Internet search engines outside Hong Kong toenable tourists' access to the information provided by the OLA in the course of planning their trips to Hong Kong.

Tourists and members of the public can make use of the search functions on the OLA's website to check whether the hotel or guesthouse concerned is licensed or not. Any suspected unlicensed hotel or guesthouse should be reported to the OLA by the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805), or through the mobile application "Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses".

Office of Licensing Authority of Home Affairs Department steps up enforcement actions against unlicensed hotels/guesthouses before Chinese New Year holidays  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Office of Licensing Authority of Home Affairs Department steps up enforcement actions against unlicensed hotels/guesthouses before Chinese New Year holidays Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Customs Seizes $3.2 Million of Space Oil Drug at Hong Kong Airport, Arrests Suspect

2025-02-06 21:50 Last Updated At:21:58

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected "space oil drug" worth about $3.2 million at airport

Hong Kong Customs detected a case involving etomidate (the main ingredient of "space oil drug"), a kind of Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 3 kilograms of suspected "space oil drug" with an estimated market value of about $3.2 million on January 8.

During Customs clearance at the airport on that day, Customs officers found the batch of suspected "space oil drug" concealed in a tote bag and a box of food package inside an unclaimed baggage arriving from Malaysia.

After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers today (February 6) arrested a 47-year-old male, who was suspected to be connected with the case in Tuen Mun and seized one "space oil drug" infused capsule and two vape devices in the cross body bag carried by him.

An investigation is ongoing.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected "space oil drug" worth about $3.2 million at airport  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected "space oil drug" worth about $3.2 million at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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