XN000022-1982-01-06 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1982

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HE ALSO ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR EACH MACHINE USED.

MR BRAY SAID ALSO THAT THE POLICE WOULD CONTINUE TO ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO CONTINUOUS AND EFFICIENT ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS.

+THERE HAVE BEEN 44 SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS UP TO DATE AND THERE ARE ELEVEN CASES PENDING,

+THIS IS NOT THE SORT OF ACTIVITY THAT CAN BE CARRIED ON CLANDESTINELY AND PROFITABLY IN THE FACE OF COMPETITION FROM PROPERLY-LICENSED CENTRES IN POPULAR LOCATIONS. I WOULD EXPECT THEREFORE THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO GREAT ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM IN THE LONG RUN.+

DISTRICT BOARD BILLS

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THE REGIONAL SECRETARY (NEW TERRITORIES), MR IAN MACPHERSON, MOVED THE SECOND READING OF A BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SEEKING TO REMOVE RESTRICTIONS ON CANDIDATES FROM PAYING TO TRANSPORT VOTERS TO POLLING STATIONS.

MR MACPHERSON SAID THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 SOUGHT TO REMOVE EXISTING RESTRICTIONS IN LAW WHICH PROHIBITED A CANDIDATE OR HIS ELECTION AGENT FROM MAKING ANY PAYMENT FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF VOTERS TO AND FROM A POLLING STATION, AND ANY PERSON FROM USING ANY COMMERCIAL VEHICLE FOR FREE TRANSPORTATION OF VOTERS AT AN ELECTION.

DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS WOULD BE HELD IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN MARCH, MR MACPHERSON SAID.

SOME 200 000 PEOPLE HAD REGISTERED FOR THESE ELECTIONS, WHICH WAS INDICATIVE OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN THIS NEW, BROAD-BASED CONSTITUENCY ELECTORAL SYSTEM,

+ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE 125 POLLING STATIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SET UP A POLLING STATION IN EACH VILLAGE, AND VOTERS IN SOME AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES MAY NEED TO TRAVEL SOME DISTANCE TO CAST THE IR VOTES, HE SAID.

+ IT IS THEREFORE PROPOSED THAT IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE A HIGHER TURNOUT OF VOTERS THE EXISTING LEGAL RESTRICTIONS ON ANY PAYMENT FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF ELECTORS TO OR FROM THE POLL SHOULD BE REMOVED.+

/MR MACPHERSON