WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1989
17
TOUGHER PROVISIONS AGAINST ILLEGAL GAMBLING PROPOSED
THE GAMBLING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1989 WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE A MEANS TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL GAMBLING, IT WILL ALSO GO A LONG WAY *TO HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TRIAD AND OTHER ORGANISED CRIME SYNDICATES, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY),
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR BARNES SAID IT AIMED ΤΟ INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF ILLEGAL GAMBLING OFFENCES, AND TO TIGHTEN UP THE PROVISIONS OF THE GAMBLING TO ALLOW MORE EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW.
ORDINANCE
"ILLEGAL GAMBLING GENERATES LARGE PROFITS FOR THE WHICH RUN SUCH OPERATIONS." HE SAID.
SYNDICATES
THE
SECOND
"PROFITS FROM ILLEGAL GAMBLING ARE THOUGHT TO BE MAJOR SOURCE OF INCOME, AFTER DRUG TRAFFICKING. FOR TRIAD AND OTHER ORGANISED CRIME SYNDICATES IN HONG KONG.
"BUT IN GENERAL THE LEVELS OF SENTENCES AWARDED FOR OFFENCES ASSOCIATED WITH ILLEGAL GAMBLING AND BOOKMAKING HAVE BEEN LOW.
PROPOSALS ΤΟ INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL GAMBLING OFFENCES WERE PUT FORWARD IN THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE'S DISCUSSION DOCUMENT "OPTIONS FOR CHANGES IN THE LAW AND IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAW TO COUNTER THE TRIAD PROBLEM".
+
MR BARNES SAID THE PROPOSALS INCLUDED MANDATORY SENTENCES AND MINIMUM FINES FOR PEOPLE CONVICTED OF RUNNING GAMBLING SYNDICATES.
·
PRISON ILLEGAL
וי
"HOWEVER. MANDATORY SENTENCES DEPRIVE THE COURTS OF DISCRETION AND FLEXIBILITY TO MEET THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF INDIVIDUAL CASES, HE SAID.
THEREFORE. HE SAID, THE BILL PROPOSED INSTEAD IN CLAUSES 3, 5 AND 7 A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE MAXIMUM FINES FOR OPERATORS OF ILLEGAL GAMBLING ENTERPRISES FROM $500,000 TO $5 MILLION.
"THIS INCREASE WILL ENABLE THE SYNDICATES WHICH RUN ILLEGAL GAMBLING OPERATIONS TO BE HIT WHERE IT HURTS THEM MOST
THE POCKET." MR BARNES EXPLAINED.
IN
FOR
"THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES INCREASES IN THE MAXIMUM SENTENCES OTHER ILLEGAL GAMBLING OFFENCES SO AS TO DETER PEOPLE FROM PATRONISING ILLEGAL GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS,' HE SAID.
CLAUSES
A.
6, 8 AND 9 WOULD PROVIDE A SCALE OF MAXIMUM SENTENCES FOR THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD AND SUBSEQUENT CONVICTIONS FOR ILLEGAL GAMBLING.
/SENTENCES RANGED