Man, woman and company fined for illegal club operations
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     A man, a woman and a company were fined $4,500 to $13,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (March 17) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.

     The courts heard that in August and October last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at two clubs on Gloucester Road and Lockhart Road in Causeway Bay, which had been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs).

     OLA officers found that the club in Gloucester Road had a layout that deviated from the registered drawings. The club staff also failed to show the copy of the certificate of fire services installations and equipment, as well as the registered drawings, upon OLA officers' request. Conditions 3, 10 and 17 of the CoC were breached.
 
     OLA officers posed as customers and patronised the club in Lockhart Road for food without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club. In addition, the layout of the club deviated from the registered drawings. Conditions 19 and 3 of the CoC were breached.

     The man, the woman and the company, being the manager and the CoC holders of the clubs respectively, were charged with contravening sections 21(1)(a) or 21(2) of the Ordinance.

     A spokesman for the department reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action will continue to be taken against illegal club operations.

Ends/Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:14

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