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A man was today (March 17) fined $4,000 for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts heard that in July last year, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department inspected a club in Nathan Road, Mong Kok, which had been operating with a Certificate of Compliance (CoC). During the investigation, OLA officers, posing as customers, patronised the club for drinks without being asked to show their membership status or invited to join the club as members. OLA officers also found that the layout of the club deviated from the registered drawing, with an increased number of tables and chairs. Conditions 3 and 19 of the CoC were therefore breached.
The man, being the CoC holder, was 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/Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:38
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