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# HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
want to encourage mechanical games of a strong gambling nature to be found in these venues.
Our existing system in fact covers two parts. If the owner of a mechanical games centre wants to operate legally, he must first of all apply to the Council for a licence for public entertainment place, that is, applying for a licence under Section 4 of Cap. 172, but if a gambling element is involved in the games in his centre, he must apply for a licence for prize-winning entertainment under Section 22(1)(a)(iii) of the Gambling Ordinance (Cap. 148, Laws of Hong Kong). These provisions are clearly stipulated in the Laws of Hong Kong and therefore we do not want any confusion made in this area in the original motion.
I wish to add here that as far as display of licence is concerned, the present requirement is that the licence for public entertainment place must be displayed at the main entrance but there are some licences for prize-winning games which are not required to be displayed. We consider that there is a problem here because since both licences aim at letting the public know that the venues are licensed, there should be no reason why there are two different requirements. Accordingly, we propose that licences for prize-winning games should also be displayed. To monitor this type of games centres, we hope that the names of unlicensed operators will be announced and that operators will be required to display both licences conspicuously in the venues they are operating.
Mr. Chairman, I wish to point out that we are in support of the spirit of the original motion but because of the confusion made in the enforcement procedures, we have moved an amendment so that the Council may exercise more effective control over the operation of this sort of mechanical games venues and urge the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority to prohibit these mechanical games venues from providing gambling games. These are my remarks.
Mr. Francis TANG CHI-HO (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
VICE-CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—No Member has given notice to speak. Is there any Member who wishes to speak? If not, is Mr. WONG Kwok-hing going to exercise his right of reply? Mr. WONG please.
Mr. Wong Kwok-HING (in Cantonese):—Although the question is not yet put, I already know the result. I could only say that the Democratic Party's strategy is successful. Nevertheless, I still hope that Members will treat the original motion as well as the amendment rationally.
I consider that there are three mistakes in the amendment moved by Mr. Lai Hok-him of the Democratic Party.
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