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A company and a man were fined $6,000 and $2,000 respectively in the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (April 26) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The Courts heard that in October last year, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department inspected a club in Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay, which had been operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC). OLA officers, posing as customers, patronised the club for food and drinks without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club as members. They also found that the actual layout of the club deviated from the registered drawing, with an increased number of tables and chairs. Furthermore, the clubhouse staff could not show the membership register upon OLA officers' request. Conditions 3, 19 and 20 of the CoC were breached.
The company, being the CoC holder, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The club was found operating under a name other than the name indicated in the CoC on the day of inspection. The man, being the club manager, was charged with contravening section 21(1)(c) 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, April 26, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:00
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