XN000022-1984-07-31 — Page 4

TUESDAY, JULY 31, 1984

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NEW CONDITIONS FOR GAME CENTRES

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS DRAWN UP A SET OF REVISED LICENSING CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE CONTROL OVER AMUSEMENT GAME CENTRES, AND WILL INTRODUCE A SYSTEM TO DETER REPEATED OFFENDERS.

THE NEW LICENSING CONDITIONS, WHICH HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL, WILL APPLY TO ALL AMUSEMENT GAME CENTRE LICENCES ISSUED OR RENEWED ON OR AFTER AUGUST 1 THIS YEAR.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY, WHICH ISSUES THESE LICENCES, POINTED OUT TODAY THAT THE REVISED CONDITIONS HAD BEEN FORMULATED AFTER CONSULTING ALL THE 18 DISTRICT BOARDS. IN ADDITION, COMMENTS BY THE TRADE HAD ALSO BEEN GIVEN VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

HE EXPLAINED THAT A SIGNIFICANT NEW CONDITION MAKES CENTRE OPERATORS RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING SUFFICIENT MEASURES TO PREVENT NOISE GENERATED IN THE CENTRE FROM CAUSING ANNOYANCE TO ANY PERSON OUTSIDE THE PREMISES.

FAILURE IN THIS RESPONSIBILITY WILL MAKE CENTRE OPERATORS LIABLE TO BE PROSECUTED AND TO HAVE THEIR PERMITTED OPERATING HOURS REDUCED BY THE TELA.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DISTRICT BOARDS' VIEWS, HE ADDED, THE EXISTING AGE RESTRICTION WILL BE RETAINED. AT PRESENT PERSONS UNDER 16 ARE PROHIBITED IN ADULT'S CENTRES WHILE THOSE AT THE AGE OF 16 OR ABOVE MAY ENTER CHILDREN'S CENTRES ONLY IF THEY ARE ESCORTING CHILDREN UNDER THAT AGE.

ALL CENTRES ARE OUT OF BOUNDS FOR PERSONS IN SCHOOL UNIFORM.

TO ASSIST CENTRE OPERATORS IN ENFORCING THESE RESTRICTIONS

A NEW LICENSING CONDITION REQUIRES STAFF OF A CENTRE TO BE PROPERLY IDENTIFIED BY MEANS OF A UNIFORM, AN IDENTITY BADGE OR OTHER SUITABLE METHODS.

THIS REQUIREMENT SHOULD ALSO DETER ANYONE FROM IMPERSONATING A STAFF MEMBER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CUSTOMERS.

IN RESPONSE TO SOME COMMENTS BY DB'S THAT SOME CENTRES WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH, A FURTHER NEW CONDITION STIPULATES THAT THE LEVEL OF ILLUMINATION SHOULD NOT BE LESS THAN 50 LUX.

YET ANOTHER NEW CONDITION STIPULATES THAT A CENTRE OPERATOR SHOULD NOT CARRY OUT ANY OTHER BUSINESS IN HIS CENTRE WITHOUT THE TELA'S PERMISSION. THIS IS BECAUSE THE SIDE BUSINESS COULD CAUSE CONGESTION AND INCREASE THE CHANCE OF THE CUSTOMERS CONTRAVENING THE AGE RESTRICTIONS.

/THE SPOKESMAN