*******************************************
Two men and a woman were fined $8,000, $6,000 and $6,000 respectively at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (September 14) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in March this year, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department inspected a club in Ashley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, which has been operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC). During the investigation, OLA officers posed as customers and patronised the club for food and drinks without being asked to show their membership status or invited to join the club as members. Moreover, the number of people at the club during the inspection exceeded the maximum allowable capacity as stipulated in the CoC. Conditions 6 and 19 of the CoC were breached.
A man, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.
OLA officers also conducted an inspection in March this year on a club in Hart Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, which has been operating with a CoC. During the investigation, OLA officers found that the actual layout of the club deviated from the registered drawing. Moreover, the exit route of the club was found to be obstructed. Conditions 3 and 9 of the CoC were breached.
A man, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.
During the inspection in March this year on another club in Hart Avenue, which has been operating with a CoC, 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. Moreover, the club was found operating under a name other than the name indicated in the CoC on the day of inspection.
The woman, being the CoC holder, was charged with contravening sections 21(2) and 21(1)(c) of the Ordinance.
A spokesman for the department said enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal clubhouse operations.
Ends/Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:01
NNNN
