From yesterday 5 p.m. until 5p.m. today (September 11), the Cross-departmental Working Team sealed a premise suspected to provide accommodation illegally. The premise comprised 25 bedspaces and an illegal immigrant found on site was handed over to the police for investigation. MGTO joined forces with the Public Security Police Force (PSP) on September 10 to raid a premise suspected to provide accommodation illegally according to information provided by a citizen. The premise, which comprised four rooms, offered 25 bedspaces. Nine occupants from the Mainland, including one suspected to be illegal immigrant, were found and investigated. The Cross-departmental Working Team has been carrying on operations to combat premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, adjusting inspection strategy and search methods continuously. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 433 premises were checked, of which 56 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 55 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 more than 460 occupants, among whom 247 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, with seven overstayers and seven illegal immigrants. 11 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.
