A man, a woman and a company were fined from $2,000 to $3,600 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (August 7) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in January and February this year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at two clubs on Shau Kei Wan Main Street East and Elgin Street in Central, which had been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs).
The staff of the club on Shau Kei Wan Main Street East failed to show the registered drawings upon the OLA officers' request. Condition 17 of the CoC was 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 Elgin 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. Condition 19 of the CoC was breached. Also, 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 woman, 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) 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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