Manager and operators fined for illegal club operation

     A man, a woman and a company were fined $1,000 to $4,500 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (July 24) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.

     The courts heard that in January this year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at two clubs on Queen's Road Central and Elgin Street in Central, which had been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs). 

     The staff of the club on Queen's Road Central failed to show the registered drawings upon the OLA officers' request. Condition 17 of the CoC was breached. The company, 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. Also, the staff of the club failed to show the latest membership register and the registered drawings upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 17, 19 and 20 of the CoC were breached. The man and the woman, 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.