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A man was fined $9,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (August 20) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in February this year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection at a club in Dundas Street, Yau Ma Tei, which has been operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC).
OLA officers posed as customers and patronised the club for food and drinks without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club. During the investigation, OLA officers found that the club's layout had deviated from the registered drawings and the exit route was obstructed. The number of people at the club during the inspection exceeded the maximum allowable capacity as stipulated in the CoC. Furthermore, the club staff failed to show the CoC or its certified true copy, as well as the registered drawings, upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 2, 3, 6, 9, 17 and 19 of the CoC 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 the CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal club operations.
Ends/Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:01
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