Twenty-one, favoured by the more traditional sector of the Chinese community and some social workers, is the legal age for adult under the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance, Chapter 1, and the age of majority as applied to a person's rights and privilege under the Jury, Urban Council and Marriage Ordinances. It is also the minimum age for entry into the Macao casinos.
32
Whilst a minimum age of 18 should have a deterrent effect mainly on secondary school students, that of 21 might, additionally, have an effect on some working youth. Presentationally, a minimum age of 21 might indicate greater Government determination in discouraging gambling among young people; but it would also be seen by the more liberal sector of the community as a retrograde and excessively conservative move. It is intended, therefore, that the minimum age should be left at 18 for the present time.
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Mark Six Lottery
33
On 27th May 1975, having considered memorandum XCC(75)24, the Council advised and the Governor ordered, inter-alia
-
1 "(a) that a programme of more frequent and attractive
lotteries should be introduced as soon as possible;
(b) that the Jockey Club was the most suitable body to
organise and conduct such a programme;.
(c) that the management of the new programme should
be entrusted either to the Jockey Club, or to a joint body containing representatives of the Jockey Club, s and persons nominated by the Government who
might include some members of the present Government. Lotteries Management Committee."
On 8th July 1975, after considering memorandum XCC(75)39, the Council approved the introduction of the Betting Duty (Amendment) (No 2) Bill 1975 which established the Hong Kong Lotteries Board to organise and conduct regular lotteries, using the facilities of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club.
34. Since their introduction in September 1975, the lotteries have successfully replaced Government lotteries and the Jockey Club's cashsweeps and provided a legal substitute for 'tse fa'; they have also been generally regarded as a respectable form of recreation by the public. Apart from the disappearance of 'tse fa', the growing popularity of the Mark Six lottery is mainly due to the attractive prize. structure with high jackpot dividends and a spread of lower prizes, the low betting unit, the simplicity of the game, its ready availability, its speed, the frequency of the draws and its self- generating publicity
CONFIDENTIAL
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