Operators fined for illegal club operations

     Two men and a woman were fined from $2,000 to $6,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (June 13) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
      
     The courts heard that in November last year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at three clubs on Nathan Road, Dundas Street and Portland Street in Kowloon which had been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs).
      
     During the investigation in the club on Nathan Road, 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 was found to have a layout that deviated from the registered drawings and the number of people at the club during the inspection exceeded the maximum allowable capacity as stipulated in the CoC. Conditions 3, 6 and 19 of the CoC were breached.
      
     The club on Dundas Street also served non-members. Condition 19 of the CoC was breached.
      
     The club on Portland Street served non-members and the OLA officers also found that the exit route had been obstructed. Conditions 12 and 19 of the CoC were breached.
      
     The men and the woman, being the CoC holders of the clubs, were 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.