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A company was fined $5,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (September 5) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The court heard that during an inspection in December last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department inspected a club on Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, which had been operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC). During the investigation, OLA officers posed as customers and patronised the club for food without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club as members. OLA officers also found that the exit route in the club was locked. Conditions 19 and 9 of the CoC were breached.
The company, being the CoC holder, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.
A spokesman for the department reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action will continue to be taken against illegal club operations.
Ends/Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:01
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