Company fined for illegal club operation
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     A company was fined $4,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (October 25) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.

     The court heard that in April this year, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection on a club in Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, which has been operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC). During the investigation, 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 as members. Moreover, the club staff could not show the membership register upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 19 and 20 of the CoC were breached.

     The company, being the CoC holder, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.

     A spokesman for the department said enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal club operations.

Ends/Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:01

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