TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1987
METHODS OF REGULATING MAHJONG CLUBS UNDER STUDY
CLUBS BUSINESS, MR PETER
THE GOVERNMENT IS EXAMINING METHODS OF REGULATING THOSE WHICH MAKE MAHJONG GAMBLING ILLEGALLY THEIR PRIME AND ONLY THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND TSAO, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
INFORMATION,
FEDERATION OF HONG KONG SPEAKING AT A LUNCH MEETING OF THE
CLUBS OR ASSOCIATIONS WERE SET UP INDUSTRIES, MR TSAO SAID THESE
THE APPROVAL OF UNDER THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE AND THE CRITERIA FOR THEIR REGISTRATION OR THEIR EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION AS SUCH BE RELATIVELY EASILY FULFILLED.
COULD
DEGREE HE SAID THESE CLUBS, ONCE ESTABLISHED, ASSUMED THE SAME
ENJOYED AND THIS MADE THE OF PRIVACY AS ALL PRIVATE CLUBS RIGHTLY MONITORING OF THEIR ACTIVITIES DIFFICULT.
MAHJONG GAMBLING IN
CLUBS REQUIRED BY ONE OR
MR TSAO SAID THE LAW ON
THAT THE GAME DID NOT INVOLVE PLAYING AGAINST A BANK KEPT *TORE PLAYERS EXCLUSIVELY OF OTHERS.
WAY OF BUSINESS OTHERWISE THE GAME MUST NOT BE CONDUCTED BY
FEE OF $20 PER DAY PER SET OF THAN TO THE EXTENT OF CHARGING A
EXTENT OF MAHJONG TILES. AN INDIVIDUAL'S GAIN MUST BE LIMITED TO THE DIS WINNINGS AS A PLAYER.
AND
MR TSAO SAID SOME OF THESE CLUBS WERE BREAKING THESE RULES WERE I
IN EFFECT ILLEGAL GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS MAKING BIG BUSINESS AND PROFITS,
**
"THERE ARE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT SOME ARE UNDER UNDESIRABLE ELEMENTS, HE SAID.
THE CONTROL
TO TIME THE PROSECUTED
OPERATORS AND THOSE
OF BUCH IN INVOLVED
MR TSAO SAID THAT FROM TIME
SUCCESSFULLY BEEN OZEMISES HAD 11 LEGAL GAMBLING HAD ALSO BEEN PUNISHED.
THESE FREQUENT
ARE
HE
WHO
PLACES "IT IS CONCEIVABLE THAT SOME
THE LAW AND THERE UNAWARE OF
MAY WELL BE GROUNDS FOR FURTHER ADVERTISING THE RULES WHICH PERTAIN TO MAHJONG GAMBLING IN CLUBS,
SAID.
"IT IS INCONCEIVABLE HOWEVER THAT WE SHOULD THE LICENSING CRITERIA AND CONTROLS OF MAHJONG HOUSES AS HAS BEEN SUGGESTED," HE ADDED.
CONSIDER APPLYING TO ALL CLUBS,
MA TSAO
SAID THE
GOVERNMENT'S PRESENT POLICY ENCOURAGE GAMBLING AND TO RESTRICT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GAMBLING ALLOW CONTROLLED OUTLETS FOR CERTAIN FORMS OF GAMBLING WHERE A NEED FOR SUCH OUTLETS WAS ESTABLISHED.
IA "THIS POLICY ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST
BACKED UP BY RESTRICTIVE LAWS AND FIRM
HE SAID. ILLEGAL GAMBLING ACTIVITIES,
+
WAS NOT TO BUT TO COGENT
MR TSAO