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A company was fined $4,800 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (August 13) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) 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 in Cannon Street, 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. Furthermore, OLA officers found that the actual layout of the club had deviated from the registered drawings, the exit route was blocked and the number of people at the club exceeded the maximum allowable capacity as stipulated in the CoC. Conditions 3, 6, 9 and 19 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, August 13, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:30
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