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A man was fined $3,000 at Kowloon City Magistrates' Court today (January 16) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The court heard that the officers of the Office of Licensing Authority (OLA), Home Affairs Department, disguised as customers, ordered drinks at a suspected unlicensed clubhouse at Shantung Street, Mong Kok, in August last year. OLA officers found a signboard bearing the name of the clubhouse at the entrance of the premises.
The man, who was the operator of the clubhouse, said a membership system was adopted for operation at the premises.
According to OLA's records, the clubhouse did not have a valid certificate of exemption or a certificate of compliance as required under Section 4(2) of the ordinance on the inspection day.
The department will continue to take strict enforcement action in non-compliance cases.
Ends/Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:31
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