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A company that had been operating a clubhouse with a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) in Wan Chai was today (March 24) fined $2,500 for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The Eastern Magistrates' Courts heard that a clubhouse in Gloucester Road, Wan Chai had been operating with a CoC under the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance. An inspection on the clubhouse was conducted by the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of Home Affairs Department last October. OLA officers, posing as customers, patronised the clubhouse for drinks without being asked to show their membership status or be invited to join the club as members. OLA officers also found that the number of patrons in the clubhouse exceeded the maximum allowable capacity stated in the CoC, the layout of the clubhouse deviated from the registered drawing and had been illegally altered. Conditions 3, 6 and 19 of the CoC were contravened. The company, holder of the CoC, was subsequently charged with contravening section 21(1)(a) of the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
A spokesman for the department said robust enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal clubhouse operations.
Ends/Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:31
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