In the light of the experience in combatting unlicensed hotels/guesthouses and licensing of hotels/guesthouses in recent years, the Home Affairs Department conducted a territory-wide consultation on the Review of the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance ("the Ordinance") in July 2014. Setting out a series of proposals, the consultation document aims to further enhance the effectiveness of enforcement actions against unlicensed hotels/guesthouses, and improve the licensing regime to minimise any impacts on residents. At the meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Home Affairs held on 24 March 2015, the Legislative Council Members were informed of the outcome of the public consultation exercise and the proposed way forward. The proposals include, inter alia, the implementation of administrative enhancement measures to the existing licensing regime of hotels and guesthouses.

To enhance the safety and management of the premises licensed under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance, three enhancement measures have been implemented with effect from 28 December 2015. For details, please read the letter to licensees/applicants dated 11 December 2015 and its attached “Guideline on New Licensing Requirements Under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance (Cap. 349)” at the column ‘General Advice to Licence/Certificate of Compliance/Permit Holders and Potential Applicants’. In addition, to facilitate guesthouse (general) licensees’ compliance with the 24-hour manned counter requirement, further details were announced on 3 January 2017, and the “Supplementary Guideline on the Provision of 24-hour Manned Counter” was launched .

At the meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Home Affairs held on 17 July 2017, the Legislative Council members were further updated on the progress on the proposed legislative amendments and consulted on the further legislative proposals to amend the Ordinance. The review of the Ordinance was completed and the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation (Amendment) Bill 2018 was gazetted on 6 July 2018. For details, please refer to the press release.

You are advised to continue to keep track of the developments of the legislative amendments and any other measures to be launched. Please check the ‘Latest News’ on the website of the Office of the Licensing Authority for details.