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Two men were fined $20,000 and $12,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (July 29) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in December last year and March this year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at a club on Lock Road in Tsim Sha Tsui and Dundas Street in Yau Ma Tei, which have been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs).
During the inspection of the club on Lock Road, OLA officers posed as customers and patronised the club for food without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club. The club staff also 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. The OLA officers also found that the exit route had been obstructed and the operation of the club had not been under the personal supervision of the certificate holder. Conditions 2, 4, 10, 12, 17 and 19 were breached.
In the club on Dundas Street, OLA officers found that, apart from serving non-members, the club had a layout that deviated from the registered drawings, the CoC or its certified true copy was not displayed at a prominent position at the club, and three exit doors had been obstructed and were not completely closed. Conditions 2, 3, 9 and 19 of the CoC were breached.
The men, 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, July 29, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:18
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