XN000022-1986-05-14 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1986

COMMUNITY OPINION SOUGHT ON BETTING CENTRES *****

THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO CONSULT COMMUNITY OPINION HEN CONSIDERING FUTURE APPLICATIONS FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB TO OPEN OFF-COURSE BETTING CENTRES, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIÃO, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

NA REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LEE YU-TAI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR LIAO SAID THERE HAD BEEN NO PROFILERATION OF OFF-COURSE BETTING CENTRES IN RECENT YEARS.

+ INDEED, THE NUMBER HAD DROPPED SLIGHTLY FROM 134 IN 1976 TL 128 NOW, HE SAID.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SEEK LOCAL VIEWS THROUGH THE ISTRICT OFFICE WHENEVER AN APPLICATION WAS RECEIVED FROM THE JOCKEY CLUB.

+ IN THE PAST, OBJECTIONS FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS, TOGETHER WITH OTHER FACTORS, SUCH AS POLICE INTELLIGENCE ON ILLEGAL GAMBLING, POTENTIAL CROWD CONTROL PROBLEMS, AND THE PROXIMITY OF SCHOOLS,

OUTH CENTRES AND OTHER OFF-COURSE BETTING CENTRES IN THE VICINITY, HAD BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REJECTION OF A NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS, HE SAID.

R LIAO SAID THAT IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, A TOTAL OF SEVEN NEW CENTRES HAD BEEN OPENED, THREE EACH IN 1984 AND 1985, AND ONE THIS YEAR.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS AT PRESENT PROCESSING THREE APPLICATIONS FROM THE CLUB, ALL FOR CENTRES TO BE OPENED IN 1987.

MR LIAO ALSO SAID THAT OF THE TOTAL BETTING TURNOVER OF 12 BILLION IN 1983, $15 BILLION IN 1984 AND $19 BILLION IN 1985, OFF-COURSE BETTING CENTRES ACCOUNTED FOR 47 PER CENT, 57 PER CENT AND 60 PER CENT IN EACH YEAR RESPECTIVELY.

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