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A company that had been operating a clubhouse without a Certificate of Compliance was today (April 21) fined $30,000 by Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The court heard that the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department inspected a suspected unlicensed clubhouse in Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, in November and December last year. An OLA officer, posing as a customer, entered the premises and was requested to join as a member before patronage. The officer later acquired his membership card and patronised the club.
According to the OLA's records, the clubhouse did not possess a valid certificate of exemption or a licence under the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance on the day of inspection. The company that operated the clubhouse was charged with contravening section 4(1) of the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
A spokesman for the department said robust enforcement action would continue to be taken against unlicensed clubhouse operations.
Ends/Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:01
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