**********************************************
A company was fined $3,000 in the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (February 8) 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 in November last year on a club in Wing Wah Lane, Central, which was operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC). During the investigation, OLA officers posed as customers and patronised the club for drinks without being asked to show their membership status or invited to join the club as members. Condition 19 of the CoC was breached.
The company, being the CoC holder, was 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/Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:31
NNNN
