XN000022-1975-07-16 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1975

NEW BOARD TO RUN ALL LOTTERIES

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LOTTERIES TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE HONG KONG LOTTERIES BOARD WILL EVENTUALLY REPLACE ALL CASH-SWEEPS ORGANISED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB DURING THE RACING SEASON AND ALL GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES ORGANISED DURING THE NON-RACING SEASON.

HOWEVER, THE HON. LI FOOK-KOW, ACTING SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON THAT THE REMAINING GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES ALREADY PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR BY THE LOTTERIES MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.

MR. LI, WHO WAS MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BETTING DUTY (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL WHICH SEEKS TO CREATE THE HONG KONG LOTTERIES BOARD, SAID IT WOULD COMPRISE SEVEN MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR. FOUR OF THE MEMBERS WILL BE STEWARDS OF THE JOCKEY CLUB NOMINATED BY THE CLUB AND THE OTHER THREE MEMBERS WILL INCLUDE TWO GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES.

THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE LOTTERIES BOARD TO MAKE USE OF THE FACILITIES OF THE JOCKEY CLUB. IT STIPULATES THAT NOT LESS THAN 80 PER CENT OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE LOTTERY, AFTER DEDUCTING A LOTTERY DUTY OF 25 PER CENT, WILL BE ALLOCATED IN PRIZES.

MR. LI SAID THIS PERCENTAGE RETURN TO PUNTERS IS THE SAME AS THE EXISTING GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES BUT IS HIGHER IN COMPARISON WITH CASH-SWEEPS.

AFTER PAYMENT FOR PRIZES, BETTING DUTY AND OPERATING EXPENSES, SURPLUS PROCEEDS OF THE LOTTERY WILL BE PAID INTO THE LOTTERIES FUND WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED FOR SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS.

MR. LI ADDED THAT IF THE REVENUE OF THE FUND DECLINED AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS INDICATED THAT FAVOURABLE CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO EITHER ADJUSTING THE BETTING DUTY ON LOTTERIES OR BY APPROPRIATING A SUITABLE SUM TO THE FUND FROM THE GENERAL REVENUE.+

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