17
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1987
HE SAID THAT AS IN THE PREVIOUS TEST
RUN, ALTHOUGH THE BILL WAS DRAFTED AND GAZETTED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE AND THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BILINGUAL LEGISLATION AD HOC GROUP HAD SCRUTINISED BOTH VERSIONS OF THE BILL, ONLY THE ENGLISH TO BE PASSED INTO LAW AT THE MEETING.
TEXT WAS
HOWEVER, AFTER A FEW MORE TEST RUNS AND WHEN MORE EXPERIENCE IN BILINGUAL LEGISLATION WAS GAINED, IT WAS HOPED THAT A BILL IN BILINGUAL FORM COULD BE
INTO THE COUNCIL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
INTRODUCED
COMMENTING ON THE LINGUISTIC ASPECTS OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BILL, MR WONG SAID THAT THE CHINESE TEXT WAS A GREAT IMPROVEMENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES BILL, AS THE VOCABULARY, USE OF TECHNICAL EXPRESSIONS AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE WERE MORE IN CONFORMITY WITH THE DAILY CHINESE USAGE.
ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT
MR WONG THANKED ALL CONCERNED FOR THEIR AND CONTRIBUTION, ADDING THAT THE CHINESE TEXT OF THIS BILL WOULD SHORTLY BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION.
STRESSING THAT LEGAL BILINGUALISM WAS NEW BUT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, MR WONG URGED THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED TO PLACE GREATER EMPHASIS ON ATTRACTING AND KEEPING SUITABLY QUALIFIED STAFF IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND
JUDICIARY TO CARRY OUT NECESSARY RELATED PROJECTS.
THE
RHKJC TO RECEIVE FIXED PERCENTAGE RATE
FOR LOTTERY OPERATIONS
* * *
UNDER THE PROPOSED BETTING DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987, A FIXED 7.5 PER CENT OF THE PROCEEDS AFTER EACH LOTTERY WOULD BE PAYABLE ΤΟ THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB TO COVER ITS OPERATING EXPENSES, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (WEDNESDAY).
THE FIXED PERCENTAGE
RATES,
TODAY
IF APPROVED, SHOULD HAVE RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT FROM JULY 1, 1986, AND THE LOTTERIES BOARD HAD ESTIMATED THAT THE LOTTERIES FUND WOULD BENEFIT FROM AN ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION OF $27 MILLION IN RESPECT OF THE CLUB'S 1986/87 FINANCIAL YEAR, HE ADDED.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR FORD SAID THAT UNDER THE EXISTING BETTING DUTY ORDINANCE, THE HONG KONG LOTTERIES BOARD MIGHT USE THE FACILITIES OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB FOR CONDUCTING PERMITTED LOTTERIES AND REIMBURSE THE CLUB FOR THE ACTUAL OPERATING COSTS.
/AT PRESENT,