Two men, a woman and a company were fined $4,000 to $4,500 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (June 16) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in August and September last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at two clubs on Yee Wo Street in Causeway Bay and a club on Jardine's Bazaar in Causeway Bay, which had been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs).
During the investigation in one of the clubs on Yee Wo 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 club's staff failed to show the registered drawing and a copy of the certificate of fire service installation and equipment upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 10, 12 and 14 of the CoC were breached. The man, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.
The club staff of another club on Yee Wo Street failed to show 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 and the number of people at the club exceeded the maximum allowable capacity as stipulated in the CoC. Conditions 3, 6 and 10 of the CoC were breached. The woman, being the manager of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(1)(a) of the Ordinance.
During the investigation in the club on Jardine's Bazaar, 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 the registered drawing and a copy of the certificate of fire service installation and equipment upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 10, 12 and 14 of the CoC were breached. The man, being the manager of the club, and the company, being 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.
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