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A woman and two companies were fined $4,500 to $10,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (March 10) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in July and August last year, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at three clubs on Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay, which had been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs).
In the first club, OLA officers found that the club's layout had deviated from the registered drawings. The club staff also failed to show the copy of the certificate of fire services installations and equipment upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 3 and 10 of the CoC were breached.
In the second club, the club staff failed to show the CoC or its certified true copy, the copy of the certificate of fire services installations and equipment and the registered drawings upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 2, 10 and 17 of the CoC were breached.
The third club breached condition 17 of the CoC as the club staff failed to show the registered drawings upon the OLA officers' request. Furthermore, the OLA officers found that the club served non-members and its exit route was obstructed. Conditions 19 and 12 of the CoC were breached.
The woman and the companies, being the operator and the CoC holders of the clubs respectively, were charged with contravening section 21(1) or 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/Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:21
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