A man was fined $15,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (September 24) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.

     The courts heard that in December last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection at a club on Jaffe Road in Causeway Bay, which had been operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC).

     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. Also, the club's staff failed to show a copy of the certificate of fire service installation and equipment, and the registered drawing upon the OLA officers' request. The OLA officers also found that the exit route had been obstructed and that the club had a layout that deviated from the registered drawing. Conditions 3, 10, 12, 17 and 19 of the CoC were breached.

     The man, being the CoC holder of the club, 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, September 24, 2019
Issued at HKT 18:00

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