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A company that had been operating a clubhouse with a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) in Central was today (May 12) fined $1,600 for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The Eastern Magistrates' Court heard that an inspection of a club in Queen's Road Central, which is operating with a CoC under the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance, was conducted by the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department in October last year. During the investigation, OLA officers, posing as customers, patronised the club for food without being asked to show their membership status and without being invited to join the club as members. This breached the Special Condition 1 of the CoC. The company, being the CoC holder, 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 12, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:01
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