Operator fined for illegal club operation

     A man was fined $12,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (August 12) 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 an inspection at a club on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, 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 without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club as members. The OLA officers also found that the number of people at the club exceeded the maximum allowable capacity as stipulated in the CoC, and the club's staff failed to show the registered drawing upon the OLA officers' request. Conditions 6, 10 and 12 of the CoC were breached. The man, 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 operation.