Two men were fined $3,000 and $4,500 respectively at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (December 19) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
      
     The courts heard that in February and June this year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at two clubs on Foo Ming Street in Causeway Bay and Wyndham Street in Central which had been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs).
      
     During the investigation in the club on Wyndham Street, OLA officers posed as customers and patronised the club for food and drinks without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club as member. The staff of the club also failed to show a copy of the certificate of fire services installations and equipment and the registered drawings upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 10, 17 and 19 of the CoC were breached.
      
     During the investigation in the club on Foo Ming Street, OLA officers posed as customers and patronised the club for food without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club as members. Also, the club was found to have a layout that deviated from the registered drawing. Conditions 3 and 19 of the CoC were breached.
      
     The men being the manager and the CoC holder of the clubs were charged with contravening section 21(1)(a) and 21(2) of the Ordinance respectively.
      
     A spokesman for the department reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action will continue to be taken against illegal club operations.    

Ends/Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:00

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