XN000022-1982-07-02 — Page 5

FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1982

LAW TO TIGHTEN ON TICKET SCALPING

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THE GOVERNMENT IS SEEKING TO TIGHTEN THE LAW TO PREVENT TICKET SCAPING IN PUBLIC PLACES BY PERSONS TOUTING TICKETS FOR HONG KONG/MACAU FERRIES, HYDROFOILS AND JETFOILS AND OTHER PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

A SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT ORDINANCE ALREADY PROHIBITS SCALPING OF TICKETS FOR PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT.

TRAVEL TICKET TOUTS MAY BE PROSECUTED UNDER THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE, BUT THE EXISTING LAW REQUIRES THAT THE IR ACTIVITIES MUST BE +TO THE ANNOYANCE OF OR IN A MANNER LIKELY TO ANNOY ANY OTHER PERSON+.

+FROM EXPERIENCE, IT IS COMPARATIVELY RARE FOR SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS TO BE MADE TO THE POLICE BECAUSE IN MANY CASES THE PERSON DIRECTLY IMPORTUNED IS WILLING OR EAGER TO BUY THE TICKET OFFERED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

UNDER THE SUMMARY OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 PUBLISHED TODAY. IT WILL BE AN OFFENCE FOR ANY PERSON TO SELL A TRAVEL TICKET IN A PUBLIC PLACE AT A PRICE EXCEEDING THE AUTHORISED PRICE.

FIRST OFFENDERS MAY BE FINED UP TO $1 000. A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENCE IS PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF UP TO $2 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS.

HK CONTRIBUTION TO SOUTH ATLANTIC FUND

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HONG KONG WILL CONTRIBUTE 2 000 000 POUNDS STERLING TO THE SOUTH ATLANTIC FUND, IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE CONTRIBUTION WAS PROPOSED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, AND HAS BEEN UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY FINANCE COMMITTEE. IT IS INTENDED TO SERVE THE LONG-TERM NEEDS OF THE FUND FOR THE BENEFIT OF SERVICEMEN AND CIVILIANS ENGAGED IN OPERATIONS IN THE FALKLANDS AND SOUTH ATLANTIC, INCLUDING HONG KONG CHINESE PERSONNEL, AND THEIR DEPENDANTS.

THOSE IN HONG KONG WHO WISH TO CONTRIBUTE PERSONALLY TO THE FUND ARE ASKED TO SEND THEIR DONATIONS TO THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES.