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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1981
**HAT I AM WORRIED ABOUT IS THE PROPAGATION OF GAMBLING, AS IF BY EDICT, THROUGH OFF-COURSE BETTING CENTRES WHICH ARE
SPREADING SYSTEMATICALLY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
+wE HAVE HAD THE RIDICULOUS SITUATION OF GOVERNMENT CONDONING THE PROLIFERATION OF OFF-COURSE BETTING CENTRES AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND AGAINST THE IR FORMAL PETITIONS,+ HE SAID.
HE WAS ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THESE CENTRES ON THE YOUNG.
+WE SHOULD NOT BE BRINGING UP YOUNG PEOPLE TO REGARD GAMBLING AS A PART OF THE NORMAL LIFE-STYLE.
+NOR CAN IT BE ARGUED THAT THE TINY PERCENTAGE OF THE PROF ITS WHICH GO TO CHARITY MAKE UP FOR EVEN A PART OF THE TOTAL DAMAGE DONE.+
DR HUANG SUGGESTED THAT WE MUST BE MUCH MORE POSITIVE AND GENEROUS IN THE PROVISION OF MORE YOUTH CLUBS, SPORTS AND CULTURAL CENTRES WHICH, IN THE SHORT TERM, WOULD OFFSET SOME OF THE WORSE ASPECTS OF THE HOUSING SITUATION AND THE PRESSURES OF THE NOISY, CROWDED AND MERCILESSLY COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH MOST PEOPLE LIVE.
IN THE LONG TERM, HE CONTINUED, THE HOUSING SITUATION ITSELF MUST BE REMEDIED.
+WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO YET, BEARING IN MIND THE MANY THOUSANDS WHO LIVE IN DINGY, MAKE-SHIFT SHACKS OR IN DILAPIDATED, UNSANITARY CRAFTS FLOATING OR HALF SINKING IN WATER BLACK WITH POLLUTION,+ HE SAID.
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