MGTO’s Inspection Division joined forces with the Public Security Police Force (PSP) on September 14 to seal three premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally on the same floor of a building in response to a complaint. 27 occupants were involved and one premise constituted of 40 bedspaces. An operator was seized in the operation. The three premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were flat A, B and D on the 6th floor of a building. The Cross-departmental Working Team found 18 occupants from the Mainland in flat A, which housed 40 bedspaces. Four occupants were found in flat B, including the operator of that premise. Five occupants were found in flat D. Flat A and D shared one common main door and a large amount of food was found in flat D. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 465 premises were checked, of which 61 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 58 were normal residences. Ensuing investigations on the rest of the premises have been launched. Among the checked premises, some were vacant or unoccupied. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and the PSP will continue investigation on unanswered doors, which are suspected to be used to provide accommodation illegally. Meanwhile, during investigations to other cases, PSP has found four premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To help the investigations, when necessary, MGTO can request a judicial order to enter into the suspect premises to investigate. To date, the operations involved a total of 503 occupants, among whom 282 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, with 10 overstayers and seven illegal immigrants. 12 operators, nine touts, nine persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and two occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were seized. Following the raid to premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, MGTO began sanction proceedings on involved operators, touts and managing staff, and adopted provisional measures to cut the supply of water and electricity to the concerned premises and sealed the doors. According to the new law, operators and person who manage the premise that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. Public can also call 2833 3000 to report suspected premises. MGTO and Legal Affairs Bureau remind travelers that, according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation", occupants found in premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally have the obligation to provide information or will be fined 3,000 patacas for violating the duty of cooperation. Occupants providing false information need to bear criminal responsibility. Non-residents who fail to pay the fine by due date might be denied reentry into Macau in the future.
