Two men and one woman were fined from $2,600 to $3,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (February 21) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
      
     The courts heard that in July last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at two clubs on Portland Street in Mong Kok which had been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs).
      
     During the investigation in one of the clubs on Portland Street, the 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 a member. The staff of the club also failed to show a copy of the certificate of the registered drawings upon the OLA officers' request. In addition, the OLA officers found that the exit route had been obstructed. Conditions 12, 17 and 19 of the CoC were breached.
      
     The other club on Portland Street also served non-members. The CoC or its certified true copy was not displayed at a prominent position and the fire resistant door could not be closed automatically. Conditions 2, 9 and 19 of the CoC were breached.
      
     The men and woman being the managers and the CoC holder of the clubs respectively, were charged with contravening section 21(1)(a) or 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, February 21, 2018
Issued at HKT 17:00

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