From March 22 until 5p.m. of March 29, the Cross-departmental Working Team sealed two more premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally. One overstayer and one illegal immigrant were found on site. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13 2010, the Cross-departmental Working Team has closed a total of 118 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and no sealed premise is authorized to reopen. Staff of Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) continues to check the premises to ensure they remain sealed and supply of water and electricity suspended. MGTO stressed that damaging the seal and resuming supply of water and electricity is a criminal offence which will be submitted to judicial entity for follow up. Since the Cross-departmental Working Team started operations, 1,330 premise-checks were conducted, involving 874 premises, of which 118 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 139 were normal residences, 251 were dormitories for labor and vacant or commercial units. MGTO and the Public Security Police Force (PSP) will continue investigation on the rest of the premises. Meanwhile, PSP will immediately inform MGTO when premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally are found while on duty, and MGTO has taken statements regarding 20 premises. Inspections conducted by the Cross-departmental Working Team involved investigations to a total of 540 occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, including 30 overstayers and 25 illegal immigrants, whose cases are being follow up by police authorities. On the other hand, 21 operators, 14 touts, 20 persons who managed the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and 11 occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were seized on site. MGTO has waged a total of 118 sanctions and nine operators who provided accommodation illegally were fined 200 000 patacas each according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation". Other cases are in different stages of sanction proceedings. If the fines are not paid within the statutory period, the Financial Services Bureau will enforce the collection of fine. Meanwhile, the 11 occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were fined 3 000 patacas each, among which four have paid the fine. For those who fail to pay the fine within the statutory period, MGTO has notified the Financial Services Bureau to enforce the collection of fine and informed PSP to deny reentry of the involved persons into Macau if they are non-residents.
