XN000022-1982-03-10 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 190.

LAW PASSED FOR BETTER CONTROL OF VIDEO-GAMES PLACES

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THE MISCELLANEOUS LICENCES (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN ONE SITTING TO PROVIDE FOR BETTER CONTROL OF VIDEO-GAME ESTABLISHMENTS AND FOR STRONGER PENALTIES AGAINST THOSE CONVICTED OF RUNNING ESTABLISHMENTS ILLEGALLY.

THE BILL DISPENSES WITH THE PREVIOUS DEFINITIONS OF +AUTOMATIC MACHINE+ AND +AUTOMATIC MACHINE CENTRE+ AND INTRODUCES A NEW AND ALL-EMBRACING DEFINITION OF +AMUSEMENT GAME CENTRE+. THIS DEFINITION MAKES LICENSABLE ANY PREMISES WHICH USE ALL IMAGINABLE TYPES OF AUTOMATIC OR VIDEO-GAME MACHINES.

IT ALSO GIVES THE COURTS MANDATORY POWERS ON CONVICTION TO ORDER THE CONFISCATION OF THOSE MACHINES WHICH HAVE BEEN SEIZED FROM ILLEGAL OPERATORS, UNLESS THE OWNER CAN SHOW SPECIAL AND EXCEPTIONAL REASONS WHY THIS SHOULD NOT BE DONE.

THREE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.

MR ALLEN LEE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE EXISTING ILLEGAL VIDEO-GAME ESTABLISHMENTS WERE HIGHLY PROFITABLE.

THE EXTENT OF SUCH PROFIT WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE WILLINGNESS OF UNSCRUPULOUS OPERATORS TO COMPROMISE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE VERY YOUNG, HE SAID.

+WE MUST STOP THESE ILLEGAL OPERATIONS AS SOON AS WE CAN,+ MR LEE SAID.

MR ANDREW SO COMMENDED THE GOVERNMENT FOR ITS RESOLUTION AND EFFORTS TO UPHOLD THE SPIRIT AND DIGNITY OF LAW ENACTMENT AND ENFORCEMENT.

HE FELT THAT THE BILL AIMED ONLY AT THOSE UNSCRUPULOUS OR ILLEGAL OPERATORS AND WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO ILL EFFECTS ON LAW-ABIDING BUSINESSMEN OR APPLICANTS.

BUT HE REITERATED THE PLEAS MADE EARLIER BY SOME UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THE COUNCIL THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROCESS THE APPLICATIONS FOR VIDEO-GAME LICENCES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

MR K.C. CHAN SAID RECENT EVENTS INDICATED THAT SOME UNSCRUPULOUS VIDEO-GAME OPERATORS DID NOT ACCEPT THE SPIRIT OF THE LEGISLATION BUT CHOSE TO PLAY AROUND WITH WORDS AND THOUGHT THAT THEY COULD OUTWIT THE LAW.

+THIS LEADS TO A MUCH MORE SERIOUS AND FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE, 1.E. THE UNDERMINING OF OUR LEGAL SYSTEM AND OPEN DEFIANCE TO GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY, SAID MR CHAN.

+THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF OUR COMMUNITY REST ON THE SOLID FOUNDATION OF LAW AND ORDER AND WE CANNOT AND MUST NOT ALLOW ANY UNSCRUPULOUS OPERATORS TO ROCK IT.+

HE BELIEVED THE BILL, WHICH PROVIDES FOR A MORE FLEXIBLE DEFINITION OF +AMUSEMENT GAME CENTRES+ AND FOR STIFFER PENALTIES, WOULD DETER THOSE WHO THOUGHT EVASION WOULD PAY.

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