Operators fined for illegal club operation
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The courts heard that in September last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection at a club on Foo Ming Street in Causeway Bay, which had been operating with a certificate of compliance (CoC).
During the investigation, 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's staff also failed to show a copy of the certificate of fire service installation and equipment upon the OLA officers' request. Moreover, the OLA officers found that the club had a layout that deviated from the registered drawing, and the number of people at the club exceeded the maximum allowable capacity as stipulated in the CoC as well. Conditions 3, 6, 12 and 14 of the CoC were breached.
The woman and the company, being the operator and the CoC holder of the club, were charged with contravening section 21(1) (a) and section 21(2) of the Ordinance respectively.
A spokesman for the department reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement actions will continue to be taken against illegal club operations.
Ends/Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Issued at HKT 18:00
Issued at HKT 18:00
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