XN000022-1984-05-16 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1984

GAMBLING POLICY EXPLAINED

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THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON GAMBLING HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO RESTRICT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GAMBLING BUT TO ALLOW CONTROLLED OUTLETS FOR SUCH GAMBLING ACTIVITIES AS EXIST, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON DENIS BRAY, SAID TODAY,

+ IN PRACTICAL TERMS, THIS MEANS STRICT LAWS AND FIRM ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL GAMBLING ACTIVITIES, SUPPORTED BY THE PROVISION OF CONTROLLED ALTERNATIVES WHERE A COGENT NEED FOR SUCH ALTERNATIVES HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED,

+THIS POLICY, IN EXISTENCE FOR MANY YEARS, WAS LAST

REVIEWED AND REAFFIRMED IN 1979,+ HE SAID.

MR BRAY WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANDREW SO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

GOVERNMENT WANTS INSOLVENT INSURANCE FIRMS COVERED

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THE GOVERNMENT WAS EXAMINING THE POSSIBILITY OF REQUESTING THE MOTOR INSURERS' BUREAU TO EXTEND ITS AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT SO AS TO COVER INSOLVENT INSURANCE COMPANIES, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI, HE SAID ALSO THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE DISCUSSING THE MATTER FURTHER WITH THE INSURANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

HE SAID, VICTIMS OF ALL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS WERE AT PRESENT ENTITLED UNDER THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO CLAIM COMPENSATION TO THE PRESCRIBED EXTENT WHETHER OR NOT AN INSOLVENT INSURANCE COMPANY WAS INVOLVED.

+ IF AN INSURANCE COMPANY IS LIABLE, THEN THE ASSETS OF THAT INSURANCE COMPANY WILL BE AVAILABLE TO MEET CLAIMS IN THE EVENT OF THE COMPANY'S LIQUIDATION.

+UNHAPPILY, VICTIMS ARE UNLIKELY TO RECOVER THE FULL AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION DUE IF THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS INSOLVENT, + HE SAID.

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