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A man was fined $12,500 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (September 18) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in February this year, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection at a club in Soy Street, Mong Kok, 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. OLA officers also found that the club's layout had deviated from the original drawings and the operation of the club had not been under the personal supervision of the certificate holder.
Furthermore, the club staff failed to show the registered drawings upon the OLA officers' request and did not display the CoC or the certified true copy in a prominent position in the club. Conditions 2, 3, 4, 17 and 19 were breached.
The man, 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/Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:15
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