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Richmond massage parlour at top hotel axed by city officials

A controversial massage parlour has tested the patience of the City of Richmond once too often. The Water Club which operates on the 11th and 12th floors of the Radisson Hotel on Cambie Road had its business licence cancelled Monday.

A controversial massage parlour has tested the patience of the City of Richmond once too often.

The Water Club which operates on the 11th and 12th floors of the Radisson Hotel on Cambie Road had its business licence cancelled Monday.

Glenn McLaughlin, the citys chief licence inspector, had recommended the club have its business licence pulled after the club committed another series of bylaw infractions.

The club was had its business license suspended in March for 60 days after police and bylaw officers caught naked employees and customers in compromising positions.

Members of the Richmond Gang Enforcement Team even entered the club on one occasion, after spotting license plates of known gang associates in the hotel's parking lot.

This time, the club fell foul of the citys bylaws in October, when licence officers and RCMP officers were ignored when they tried to gain entry for an inspection of the club around 11:40 p.m.

Waiting outside instead, the police officers intercepted clients leaving the club, who were identified as high level drug traffickers. The clients confirmed to the officers that they were in the club and claimed to have received foot massages.

Nine days later, when an inspection team did manage to gain entry, they discovered a window to a room obstructed by a robe (contrary to the bylaws) and a person under the age of 19.

Given the history of this establishments business operations and the series of bylaw infractions after its business licence was suspended for 60 days, it is the recommendation that the business licence be cancelled such that this establishment is prohibited from doing business in the City of Richmond, McLaughlin wrote in his report.

McLaughlin further noted in his report that considerable resources are used to inspect such adult orientated businesses.

Its understood the club had already closed, but, as its licence was valid until next October, the city wanted to make sure it didnt try to re-open.

Many of the inspection raids at the Water Club were prompted by calls from hotel staff, who got fed up with what appeared to be underage Asian females whom they understood to be prostitutes heading up to the club armed with alcohol during the early hours.

And on several occasions, the club's manager, Paul Jin, either refused to let the officers into the premises or took a while to come to the door.