XN000022-1978-02-15 — Page 6

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1978

YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED FROM GAMBLING

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THE GOVERNMENT AGREES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED FROM TAKING UP THE GAMBLING HABIT AND WELCOMES ANY INDEPENDENT AND PROPERLY CONSTITUTED SURVEYS ON THE EFFECTS OF OFF-COURSE BETTING CENTRES ON THEM.

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THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. F.K. LI IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR. THE HON. RAYSON HUANG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY,

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+HOWEVER, MR. LI SAID, I CANNOT COMMIT FINANCE COMMITTEE THAT SUFFICIENT FUNDS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THIS PURPOSE AS WE WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER EACH APPLICATION ON ITS OWN MERITS BEFORE SEEKING ANY NECESSARY FUNDS FOR THIS PURPOSE.+

ON THE QUESTION OF LIMITING THE TIME ALLOWED FOR HORSE-RACING PROGRAMMES ON RADIO AND TELEVISION, MR, LI SAID IT DID NOT APPEAR NECESSARY AT PRESENT AS SUCH TIME AMOUNTED TO ONLY ABOUT 28 HOURS PER WEEK WHICH IS LESS THAN TWO PER CENT OF THE TOTAL BROADCASTING TIME.

MR. LI SAID IT MIGHT NOT BE PRACTICABLE TO ANNOUNCE SUCH PROGRAMMES AS UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN AND QUESTIONED THE EFFECTIVENESS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE MOVE, PARTICULARLY WHEN THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BEING ATTRACTED TO THESE PROGRAMMES.

+NEVERTHELESS, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP A CAREFUL WATCH ON THE SITUATION AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION, WHERE NECESSARY,+ MR. LI SAID.

HE ALSO SAID THAT TEACHERS AS WELL AS PARENTS SHOULD EMPHASISE REGULARLY TO YOUNG PEOPLE THAT GAMBLING IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HARD WORK OR OTHER FORMS OF RECREATION AND HE WOULD ASK THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION TO CONSIDER HOW THIS MESSAGE MAY BEST BE REINFORCED IN SCHOOLS.

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