The HCM City People’s Committee has asked a number of local administrative agencies to crack down on illegal prostitution and gaming activities at service businesses like bars and massage parlours.

HCM City inspectors visit Ruby Restaurant on Ton That Tung Street in HCM City’s District 1 on May 31. Police detained many customers and waitresses after the inspection.

The city’s Department of Culture and Sports will be responsible for working directly with agencies and district authorities to report violations to the People’s Committee.

The Police Department will inspect and supervise service businesses such as karaoke bars, restaurants, hotels, massage parlours, gaming clubs and sports clubs.

The city’s Department of Justice plans to draft new regulations on service-related business management and submit it to the People’s Committee by August 30.

The People’s Committee said that regulations in the current law were inadequate, and that business registration certificates of violators must be revoked, and that they must cease operations.  

Currently, many violators who were fined have still continued operating even after they pay fines.

The People’s Committee has asked the Department of Information and Communications to work with agencies and district authorities to provide information about the law to managers of service facilities. 

The public can contact the administrative agencies by phone at (028)88247247 or email duongdaynong@tphcm.gov.vn to report violations committed by service businesses.

According to the Department of Culture and Sports, interdisciplinary inspectors inspected over 2,900 service facilities in the first five months of the year.

They found nearly 1,400 violations, and handed out fines worth more than VNĐ17 billion (US$755,000). — VNS