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A woman was fined $11,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (July 30) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance (the Ordinance).
The courts heard that in January this year, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection at a club on Lockhart 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 without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club. Furthermore, OLA officers found that the club's layout had deviated from the original drawings. Conditions 3 and 19 were breached.
The woman, being the CoC holder, was 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/Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:30
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