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Two men were fined $3,000 and $4,000 respectively in the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court today (February 24) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The court heard that the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection on a club that had been operating with a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) under the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance, in Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei, in July last year. OLA officers, posing as customers, patronised the clubhouse for beverages without being asked to show their membership status or invited to join the club as members. Clubhouse staff could not show the membership register upon an OLA officer's request. Furthermore, the layout of the clubhouse was found to have deviated from the approved licensing plan. Conditions 3, 19 and 20 of the CoC were breached.
In another inspection conducted on a club in Dundas Street, Yau Ma Tei, in August last year, OLA officers, posing as customers, patronised the clubhouse for food and beverages without being asked to show their membership status or invited to join the club as members. The layout of the clubhouse was found to have deviated from the approved licensing plan, and the exit route in the clubhouse leading to the rear staircase was found to be obstructed. Conditions 3, 9 and 19 of the CoC were breached.
The two men, being the CoC holders of the above two clubs, were charged with contravening Section 21(2) of the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
A department spokesman said robust enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal clubhouse operations.
Ends/Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:00
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