Managers and operators fined for illegal club operations
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The courts heard that in April this year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at two clubs on Shanghai Street and Argyle Street in Mong Kok, which had been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs).
The staff of the club on Shanghai Street failed to show the registered drawings upon the OLA officers' request. Condition 17 of the CoC was breached. The woman, being the manager of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(1) (a) of the Ordinance and another woman, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.
During the investigation in the club on Argyle Street, the 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 as members. The club was also found to have a layout that deviated from the registered drawings and the staff of the club failed to show the registered drawings upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 3, 17 and 19 of the CoC were breached.
The two men and the company, being the managers and the CoC holder of the club respectively, were charged with contravening section 21(1) (a) or 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 will continue to be taken against illegal club operations.
Ends/Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Issued at HKT 18:00
Issued at HKT 18:00
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