In view of the effectiveness of increased Police pressure, the likely public objection to any further liberalisation of the gambling policy, it is recommended that casino gambling should continue to be prohibited and that Police pressure should be maintained on these operations.
Football Pools and Other Forms of Gambling
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Members may recall that in 1960, a bill aimed at licensing betting on local football pools was turned down in the Legislative Council largely because of unfavourable public reaction. Since then, various enquiries, mainly overseas and especially in the last three years, have been received enquiring about the possibility of operating football pools in Hong Kong betting, in particular, on matches played in the United Kingdom. Enquiries in respect of other forms of gambling activities, such as lotteries and, most recently, cycle racing, have also been received. On such occasions, replies to the effect that the proposed forms of gambling are not permissible under existing policies have been given.
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Although the introduction of any new forms of lawful gambling activities may provide further alternative outlets for illegal gambling, it is considered that Government's objective should primarily be concerned with providing legal channels only for existing forms of illegal gambling and not for any new forms of gambling. It is therefore recommended that negative response should continue to be given to any further possible approach to introducing any new forms of gambling in Hong Kong.
Gambling Ordinance 1977
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Enacted on 17th February 1977, Gambling Ordinance 1977 aims at eliminating the unlawful commercial exploitation of gambling through:
(a)
(b)
extending the scope of legal gambling by legalising socially-acceptable forms of gambling, such as mahjong, under certain conditions;
imposing heavy penalties on people operating unlawful gambling as a business or taking part in such illegal betting activities.
CONFIDENTIAL