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A woman was fined $11,500 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (November 20) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in April this year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, conducted an inspection at a club in Dundas Street, Yau Ma Tei, which has 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. The club staff also could not show the certificate of fire services installations and equipment as well as the membership register upon OLA officers' request. Furthermore, OLA officers found that the club's layout had deviated from the original drawings and its exit route was blocked. Conditions 3, 9, 10, 19 and 20 were breached.
The woman, being the CoC holder, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.
A spokesman for the department reminded all the CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal club operations.
Ends/Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:20
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