********************************
A club was today (June 30) fined $1,000 for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The Eastern Magistrates' Courts heard that the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department inspected a clubhouse which has been operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC), in Jubilee Street, Central, in January this year. OLA officers, posing as customers, patronised the club for food without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club as members during the investigation. Furthermore, the clubhouse staff could not present its membership registry upon request by OLA officers. Conditions 19 and 20 of the CoC were therefore breached. The club concerned was subsequently charged with contravening the 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, June 30, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:59
NNNN
