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Two companies were fined $1,800 and $5,200 respectively at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (April 17) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance (the Ordinance).
The courts heard that in August last year, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection at a club on Tong Mi Road, Mong Kok, 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. Condition 19 of the CoC was breached.
Furthermore, OLA officers inspected a club operating with a CoC on Nathan Road, Mong Kok, in September last year. Apart from serving non-members, the club's layout was found to have deviated from the registered drawings. Moreover, the club had not yet obtained the formal written agreement of the Secretary for Home Affairs before commencing its alteration work. Conditions 3, 16 and 19 were breached.
The two companies, being the CoC holders, were charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.
A spokesman for the department reminded all the CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal club operations.
Ends/Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:40
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