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A man was fined $5,000 at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (August 27) for contravening the Karaoke Establishments Ordinance.
The courts heard that officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department posed as customers and patronised a karaoke establishment on Tai Pei Tau Path in Yuen Long in December last year. They also found audio-visual and other devices for karaoke activity in the premises.
According to the OLA's records, the premises did not possess a valid permit or licence under the Ordinance on the day of inspection. The man responsible for managing the karaoke establishment was therefore charged with contravening section 4(1) of the Ordinance.
A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing a karaoke establishment without a valid permit or licence is a criminal offence. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and one year's imprisonment. He appealed to the public to report unlicensed karaoke establishments to the OLA at 2881 7498.
Ends/Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:16
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