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A company was fined $4,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (September 25) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The court heard that during an inspection in February this year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department inspected a club on Peel Street, Central, which had been 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 being invited to join the club as members. Moreover, the club staff failed to show the membership registers and the CoC upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 2, 19 and 20 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/Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:31
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