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Club query
As a Police Officers' Club member, I wish to clarify my right to use its facilities.
On the evening of September 13, my study group (we are classmates in a part-time management course) and I were having discussions on our course work inside the reading room next to the POC main entrance. At that time, the room was vacant and we found it a very nice place to do our work. Later, a lady came in and asked us if we were holding a formal meeting and if we had booked the room.
I presumed she was club staff and told her we were not holding a formal meeting but just a private group discussion. She then told me that if we wanted to use that room, we should either book the room in advance or pay a charge of $200 for the first three hours. Following that, another male staff kept disturbing our discussion saying we had no right using the room for the discussion.
I believe it is not Force policy to discourage its members from using club facilities. However, what the staff told me leads me to feel there are strict rules governing the use of the facilities in the club.
While I agree that a minimal charge is needed for using some of the facilities such as the tennis or squash courts, would it be reasonable to charge at that rate for using the reading room just for doing some private work?
As I have no intention to occupy the whole room for our own use, would it be necessary to have advance booking under such circumstances? As a keen supporter of the club, I am proud of being one of its members and hope my negative feeling is wrong.
A Chief Inspector
Reply from the club . . .
As set by the Social Amenities Council (SAC), both the Reading Room and the Gallery are open for advanced booking by giving at least seven days' notice to the Management Office. Individual members (principal or spouse) may book the rooms for non-commercial purposes up to one month in advance on a first-come-first-served basis.
There is a hiring charge of $200 for the first three hours, and $100 per hour thereafter. For booking of the Gallery, a minimum set charge will be required for food and drinks, namely: (a) lunch $1,200; (b) dinner $2,000; (c) other occasions $400.
A member who has booked the room must turn up at the reception, produce their membership card and pay the hiring charge before entering. Police-recognised bodies may book the room for official purposes up to three months in advance. No hiring charge is required.
In the evening on September 13, the Club member was having a group discussion of 10 persons using his own notebook computer and facility therein, causing other Club members to leave or not to enter the room for reading or leisure purposes.
A situation of exclusive use of the room was created, though the intention of the group might not be occupying the whole room. Nevertheless, having informed the group of the booking requirement, our staff did not stop them from further using the room until they finished that night.
To avoid future misunderstanding, an advanced booking would be favourable.
Wong Kam-suen
Manager, Police Officers' Club
＊This article has English version only
＊本文只有英文版本
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