HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
Objects and Reasons.
The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows:-
1. The object of the proposed new section in the Places of Public Entertainment Regulation Ordinance is to put an end tɔ a ticket-selling racket which has grown into an intolerable nuisance.
2. Briefly, the trouble is that touts, acting for individuals or gangs who have bought quantities of tickets in advance, stand about in the streets adjoining and the entrance halls of and approaches to, cinemas, theatres and sports grounds, sometimes even obstructing the entrances, box-offices or turnstiles, importuning would-be entrants to buy their tickets from them, and often representing that all other seats are fully booked.
3. Not only have complaints against this nuisance been received from entertainment organizers and the public, but there is cause to believe that the operations of gangs or roughs, interested in the sale at their own prices of these tickets, have resulted in several assaults on members of the public and even in a street murder outside a theatre.
ENTERTAINMENTS TAX AMENDMENT BILL, 1941.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Entertainments Tax Ordinance, 1930." He said: This is in substitution of the Bill which was read at the end of last year and passed its first reading only. It is to the same effect except that it reduces the price of tickets free from duty to four cents. Under the Ordinance it is 20 cents, and it was proposed under the earlier Bill to reduce it to 14 cents. It is now proposed to reduce the price to four cents so that this Council, when it passes the resolution, will have a free hand to tax any admission price from five cents upwards.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.
Objects and Reasons.
The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows:-
1. It is provided by section 3 (1) of the Entertainments Tax Ordinance, 1930, (Vol. III of the Ordinances of Hong Kong, 1937 Edition) that there shall be charged, levied and paid on all payments for admission to any entertainment
a duty at such rates as
the Legislative Council may by resolution prescribe.
2. Section 5 (1) (a) however provides that the duty shall not be charged on payments for admission to any entertainment where the Financial Secretary is satisfied that the charge for admission is not more than twenty cents for each person.
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