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A company which had been operating with a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) in Causeway Bay was today (May 27) fined $3,000 for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The Eastern Magistrates’ Court heard that the company in Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay had been operating with a CoC under the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance since April last year. The Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of Home Affairs Department found that a clubhouse located in the company served non-members and failed to produce a membership register for inspection in July last year. The OLA subsequently issued a warning letter to the company.
In November last year, an officer of OLA, posing as a customer, patronised the clubhouse for a drink without being asked to show his membership status or being invited to join the club as a member. The company, holder of the CoC, was found to be in contravention of the special conditions 1 and 2 of the CoC – serving members of the public and failure to produce membership register in the club premises. The company was subsequently charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
A spokesman for the department said robust enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal clubhouse operations.
Ends/Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:31
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