WEDNESDAY, JULY
20
BETTER WAY TO PAY FOR LOTTERIES SERVICE FEE
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A BILL PROVIDING FOR A MORE SATISFACTORY BASIS FOR THE LOTTERIES BOARD TO PAY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB FOR CONDUCTING MARK VI LOTTERIES WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATI" COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BETTING DUTY (AMENDMENT BILL 1985, THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, THE HON ADOLF HSU, SAID THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL WAS TO AMEND THE BETTING DUTY ORDINANCE SO THAT THE JOCKEY "" COULD BE REIMBURSED THE EXACT EXPENSES FOR PROVIDING FACILI FOR THE HONG KONG LOTTERIES BOARD TO CONDUCT THE MARK VI LOTTER IES.
SECTION 4C(2) OF THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES FOR THE LOTTERIE. BOARD TO PAY TO THE JOCKEY CLUB SUCH PERCENTAGE OF THE PROCEE OF A LOTTERY AS THE BOARD MAY FROM TIME TO TIME DETERMINE IN DISCHARGE OF ALL OPERATING COSTS INCURRED OR CHARGED BY THE CLUB FOR RUNNING THE GOVERNMENT'S MARK VI LOTTERIES.
MR HSU SAID THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS HAD AD. THAT ON A PROPER CONSTRUCTION, SECTION 4C(2) REQUIRED THAT T... PERCENTAGE OF THE PROCEEDS OF A LOTTERY PAYABLE TO THE JOCKE · CLUB BE PRE-DETERMINED.
+THERE IS NO PROVISION UNDER EXISTING LAWS TO REIMBURSE CLUB SHOULD THE PRE-DETERMINED PERCENTAGE IN RESPECT OF ITS BUDGETED PERCENTAGE SHARE PROVE INADEQUATE TO MEET ALL ACTUAL EXPENSES WHEN THE ACCOUNTS ARE FINALISED AND AUDITED.
+NOR IS THERE PROVISION TO REQUIRE THE CLUB TO PAY INTO LOTTERIES FUND ANY EXCESS OF ITS PRE-DETERMINED PERCENTAGE SHARE,+ MR HSU SAID.
IN THE PAST, MR HSU SAID, THE CLUB HAD ON ITS OWN INITIAT UNDERTAKEN TO PLACE ANY SUCH SURPLUSES FROM ITS PERCENTAGE SHA THROUGH THE LOTTERIES BOARD, TO THE LOTTERIES FUND, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT FOR THE CLUB TO DO SO.
+ IN A RECENT REVIEW, THE PRINCIPLE THAT PAYMENT TO THE CLL SHOULD BE NO MORE OR LESS THAN THE ACTUAL OPERATING EXPENSES WAS AGREED BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE LOTTERIES BOARD, + MR SAID.
THE PRESENT BILL STIPULATED THAT THE CLUB WAS REQUIRED TO ANY SURPLUS IN EXCESS OF ITS ACTUAL EXPENSES FROM THE PERCENTAGE SHARE INTO THE LOTTERIES FUND, HE SAID.
IT ALSO AUTHORISED PAYMENT TO BE MADE OUT OF THE LOTTER I FUND WHEN THE CLUB'S ACTUAL OPERATING EXPENSES EXCEEDED THE AMOUNT OF THE PERCENTAGE SHARE PAID TO IT.
/+SEPARATELY,