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A company was fined $3,500 at the Eastern Magistrates' Court today (April 8) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The court heard that officers of the Office of Licensing Authority of the Home Affairs Department conducted a decoy investigation of a club in Causeway Bay in November 2007. The officers were served at the premises without being asked whether they were members.
The company, holder of the Certificate of Compliance (CoC) of the club, was found to be in contravention of the special condition of the CoC, that is, it was serving members of the public in the club premises. The company was subsequently charged under section 21(2) of the ordinance.
Under the ordinance, a "club" means any corporation which provides services for its members and has a clubhouse which only its members and their accompanied guests can use. If a club which serves food and drink also entertains non-members, the premises should be subject to regulations which are applicable to general food businesses.
The department will continue to take strict enforcement action in non-compliance cases.
Ends/Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:01
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