Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13 the Cross-departmental Working Team has been carrying on operations to fight the premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, with inspection strategy being adjusted continuously. For the last more than 20 days of operations, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) as carried on 56 inspections to buildings and, during different periods, on the streets nearby looking for suspect touts. At the same time, inspectors have been checking sealed premises to see if the seal at the door and the water and electricity suspension has been kept untouched. Until now, the Cross-departmental Working Team has sealed 47 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally. Since the new law took effect, a total of 395 premises were checked, of which 55 were normal residences, while 47 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed. Ensuing investigations on the rest of the premises have been launched. Among the checked premises, some were vacant or unoccupied. MGTO and the Public Security Police Force (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 three premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To date, the operations involved more than 388 occupants, among whom 220 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 9 operators, 7 touts, 6 persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and two occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation. Among the occupants, there were 7 overstayers and 5 illegal immigrants. To help the investigations, when necessary, MGTO can request a judicial order to enter into the suspect premises to investigate. 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.
