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Two companies were fined $4,000 and $11,000 respectively at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (February 12) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in July last year, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at two clubs in Tsim Sha Tsui, which have been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs).
During the investigation, OLA officers posed as customers and patronised a club in Knutsford Terrace for drinks without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club. Condition 19 of the CoC was breached.
Furthermore, OLA officers found that the actual layout of a club on Ashley Road had deviated from the registered drawings and the club staff failed to show the registered drawings upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 3 and 17 of the CoC were breached.
The two companies, being the CoC holders, were 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, February 12, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:00
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