XN000022-1972-11-01 — Page 13

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Wednesday, November 1, 1972

She added:

"Unless we come up with a practical policy in housing

for all civil servants, the problems of recruitment and corruption will be

with us for a long time.

Speaking on gambling, Mrs. Li said that the proposal to legalise

off-course betting by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club might find "some

sympathetic ears among the Chinese community."

But, she added, there will be stiff opposition from the Chinese

community to the legalisation of all forms of gambling.

The arguments for legalised gambling were "entirely against the

Chinese philosophy and way of thinking and have never been accepted as valid

by the Chinese community,' she said.

It was true, she said, that many people were "born gamblers." But

it was "undignified and objectionable" to suggest that the Government exploit

the people's weakness as a source of revenue.

Our finance is so strong that there is no need for this, she added.

Referring to arguments that legalised gambling would remove or

reduce corruption, Mrs. Li said this was "wishful thinking and being naive."

Illegal gambling would continue where more profit could be made

through tax evasion, resulting in more corruption and more strongly organised

crimes.

Moreover, there was the socio-economic effect on those members of

society who could not afford to gamble away their entire housekeeping money

and so would have to resort to stealing and robbery on the streets.

"To encourage the population to gamble openly is to invite trouble

in more ways than one," she declared.

/She asked