Operators and manager fined for illegal club operations
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     A man, two women and a company were fined $1,800 to $9,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (May 19) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.

     The courts heard that in November last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at three clubs in Queen's Road Central, Cochrane Street and Staunton Street in Central, which had been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs).

     OLA officers posed as customers and patronised the clubs in Queen's Road Central and Cochrane Street for food and drinks without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club as members. Condition 19 of the CoC was breached. Three persons, being the CoC holders and the manager of the clubs, were charged with contravening sections 21(2) or 21(1) of the Ordinance.

     At the club in Staunton Street, OLA officers found that the number of people in the club during the inspection had exceeded the maximum allowable capacity as stipulated in the CoC. The club staff also failed to show the copy of the certificate of fire service installations and equipment as well as the registered drawings upon OLA officers' request. Conditions 6, 10 and 17 of the CoC were breached. The company, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.

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

Ends/Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:51

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