Manager and operator fined for illegal club operations

     Two men were each fined $3,200 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (October 8) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.

     The courts heard that in March this year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an inspection at a club on Elgin Street in Central 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. 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. Moreover, the OLA officers found that the club had a layout that deviated from the registered drawing. Conditions 3, 10, 12 and 14 of the CoC were breached.
      
     The men, being the manager of the club and the CoC holder of the club respectively, were charged with contravening section 21(1) (a) and 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.