Operators fined for illegal club operation
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The courts heard that in March and May last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at two clubs on Soy Street in Mong Kok and Ashley Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, which had 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 as members.
Apart from serving non-members, the club on Soy Street was found to have the exit route obstructed and it had operated beyond the licensed area. Conditions 12, 18 and 19 of the CoC were breached.
At the club on Ashley Road, in addition to serving non-members, the staff of the club failed to show the registered drawings upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 17 and 19 of the CoC were breached.
The man and woman, being the CoC holders of the clubs, 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 will continue to be taken against illegal club operations.
Ends/Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:00
Issued at HKT 18:00
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