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A man and a woman were fined $3,300 and $6,000 respectively at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court today (January 30) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in May last year, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department inspected a club on Cameron Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, which had been operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC). During the investigation, OLA officers posed as customers and patronised the club for drinks without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club as members. Moreover, OLA officers found that the actual layout of the club had deviated from the registered drawing. Conditions 3 and 19 of the CoC were breached.
In another operation in July last year, OLA officers inspected a club operating with a CoC on Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Apart from serving non-members, the club was found to have a layout that deviated from the registered drawing. Moreover, the club staff failed to show the CoC, or its certified true copy, and the registered drawings of the club upon OLA officers' request. Conditions 2, 3, 17 and 19 of the CoC were breached.
The man and the woman, being the CoC holders of the clubs, were charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.
A spokesman for the department reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal club operations.
Ends/Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:35
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