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Two men and a company were fined $6,600 to $17,500 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (November 27) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in February and April this year, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at a club on Tong Mi Road in Mong Kok, and two clubs on Nathan Road in Yau Ma Tei respectively, which have been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs). OLA officers posed as customers and patronised the clubs without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the clubs. Condition 19 of the CoC was breached.
During the investigation in the club on Tong Mi Road, 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 and 9 of the CoC were breached.
In the club on Nathan Road, OLA officers found that the exit route was blocked. The club staff also failed to show the membership registers upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 9 and 20 of the CoC were breached. The man and the company, being the CoC holders, were charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.
In the other club on Nathan Road, the OLA officers found that the actual layout of the club had deviated from the registered drawings and it had operated under a name other than the one shown on the CoC. The club staff also failed to show the CoC or the certified true copy, the registered drawings and the certificate of fire services installations and equipment as well as the membership register upon OLA officers' request. Conditions 2, 3, 10, 17 and 20 of the CoC were breached. The man, being the CoC holder, was charged with contravening section 21(1)(c) and 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, November 27, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:01
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