****************************************
A company was fined $4,500 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (June 18) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in November last year, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection at a club on Hennessy 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 drinks without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club. OLA officers also found that the exit route was blocked and the CoC holder did not arrange an inspection of fire services installations and equipment in the club by a registered fire services installation contractor regularly. Conditions 19, 9 and 10 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 would continue to be taken against illegal club operations.
Ends/Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:15
NNNN
