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A man and a company were fined $3,000 and $1,200 respectively in the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court today (November 18) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The court heard that the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection on a club in Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, in May this year. OLA officers found that the total number of patrons and staff members inside the clubhouse exceeded the maximum number of people allowed. Furthermore, the layout of the clubhouse deviated from the registered drawing with extra numbers of tables and chairs. Conditions 3 and 6 of the CoC were breached. The man, holder of the certificate of compliance (CoC), was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
In another inspection conducted in May on a club in Portland Street, Mong Kok, which had been operating with the CoC, OLA officers, posing as customers, were served food and beverage in the clubhouse without having their membership status verified or being invited to join as members. Condition 19 of the CoC was contravened. The company, being the CoC holder, was also charged with contravening Section 21(2) of the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
A department spokesman said robust enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal clubhouse operations.
Ends/Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:01
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