****************************************
A company was fined $5,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (February 26) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in July last year, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection at a club on Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, 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 the club. OLA officers also found that the actual layout of the club had deviated from the registered drawings. Conditions 3 and 19 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 reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action would continue to be taken against illegal club operations.
Ends/Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:31
NNNN