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A woman was fined $6,000 today (March 22) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The Eastern Magistrates' Courts heard that in December last year, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department inspected two clubhouses which had been operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC) in Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay. During the investigation, OLA officers, posing as customers, patronised one of the clubs for drinks without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club as members. Moreover, clubhouse staff could not show the updated membership registers upon OLA officers' request. Conditions 19 and 20 of the CoC were breached.
During the inspection in the other clubhouse, the staff could not show the updated membership registers upon OLA officers' request. Condition 20 of the CoC was breached.
The woman, being the CoC holder of the above two clubs, was subsequently charged with contravening section 21(2) of the ordinance.
A spokesman for the department said enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal clubhouse operations.
Ends/Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:16
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