Two men and a company were fined from $6,000 to $12,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (December 19) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in May this year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at two clubs on Nathan Road and Hau Fook Street in Tsim Sha Tsui, which had been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs).
The club on Nathan Road was found to have 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. Conditions 3 and 6 of the CoC were breached. The man, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.
During the investigation in the club on Hau Fook 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 OLA officers also found that the exit route had been obstructed. Conditions 12 and 19 of the CoC were breached. Also, the OLA officers found that the club had been operating under a name other than the one indicated on the CoC on the day of inspection.
The man, being the manager of the club, was charged with contravening sections 21(1) (a) and 21(1) (c) of the Ordinance and the company, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) and 21(1) (c) 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.
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