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Two men and a woman were fined $9,000 to $18,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (January 14) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in April and June last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at three clubs in Dundas Street, Nathan Road and Portland Street in Mong Kok, which have been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs).
OLA officers found the layout of the club in Dundas Street had deviated from the registered drawings, and the CoC or its certified true copy was not displaced at a prominent position at the club. The club staff also failed to show the registered drawings upon OLA officers' request. Conditions 3, 2 and 17 of the CoC were breached.
The club on Nathan Road was found to have breached conditions 3 and 17 of the CoC. In addition, 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, the means of escape of the club was found to be obstructed by miscellaneous objects. The number of people at the club had also exceeded the maximum allowable capacity as stipulated in the CoC. Conditions 19, 12 and 6 of the CoC were breached.
Furthermore, apart from breaching conditions 3, 6, 17 and 19, the club in Portland Street was also found to have breached conditions 9 and 20 of the CoC as the exit route had been obstructed and the club staff failed to show the membership registers upon OLA officers' request.
The two men and the woman, being the CoC holders of the clubs respectively, 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, January 14, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:16
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