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A man was fined $8,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (December 20) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The court heard that in February this year, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department inspected a club in Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, 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 club staff were not able to show the membership register upon the OLA officers' request. The OLA officers also found that the actual layout of the club deviated from the registered drawing, with additional furniture installed. Conditions 3, 19 and 20 of the CoC were breached.
Furthermore, 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 manager of the club, was charged with contravening sections 21(1)(a) and 21(1)(c) of the Ordinance.
A spokesman for the department said enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal club operations.
Ends/Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:31
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