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A female manager of an unlicensed clubhouse in Tsuen Wan was today (February 25) fined $5,200 for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Court heard that officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of Home Affairs Department, posing as customers, inspected a suspected unlicensed clubhouse in Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, last August. The officers were asked by a waitress if they were members and what package of service they liked. The officers found that the premises were divided into 13 rooms with mahjong tables.
A woman, manager of the premises, admitted that she was responsible for managing the members-only mahjong club with supplementary catering service and the club was operated without a licence. According to OLA's record, the premises did not possess a certificate of exemption or a certificate of compliance, and the woman was charged with contravening section 4(1) of the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
A spokesman for the department said robust enforcement action would continue to be taken against unlicensed clubhouse operations.
Ends/Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:01
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