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A woman and a company were fined $6,000 and $16,500 respectively at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (March 12) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in August last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at two clubs in Dundas Street and Nathan Road in Yau Ma Tei, which have been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs).
OLA officers found that the club in Dundas Street had a layout that deviated from the registered drawings and the number of people at the club during the inspection had exceeded the maximum allowable capacity as stipulated in the CoC. Conditions 3 and 6 of the CoC were breached.
At the club on Nathan Road, the layout deviated from the registered drawings, the number of people at the club during the inspection exceeded the maximum allowable capacity as stipulated in the CoC, and the exit route was obstructed. The club staff also failed to show the CoC, or the certified true copy, and the registered drawings. Conditions 2, 3, 6, 9 and 17 of the CoC were breached.
The woman and the company, 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, March 12, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:52
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