WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1987
37
MR CHAMBERS POINTED OUT THAT WHILE THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED COUNSELLING, REHOUSING AND OTHER WELFARE SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO WERE GENUINELY HOMELESS, OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONDUCTED REGULAR CLEARANCE OPERATIONS WITH THE CO- ORDINATION OF THE LOCAL DISTRICT OFFICES, TO DETER STREET-SLEEPING AND CURB NUISANCES.
+DURING THE PAST SIX MONTHS, 48 CLEARANCE OPERATIONS HAVE
BEEN CONDUCTED IN A NUMBER OF DISTRICTS, HE ADDED.
HE SAID THAT HE WOULD DISCUSS WITH THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED HOW BETTER CO- ORDINATION COULD BE ACHIEVED.
CONTROLLED OUTLETS FOR GAMBLING ALLOWED
*****
IT IS GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO RESTRICT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GAMBLING BUT TO ALLOW CONTROLLED OUTLETS FOR GAMBLING ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON RICHARD LAI, MR THOMAS SAID UNDER THE EXISTING LAW (GAMBLING ORDINANCE CAP. 148), ALL GAMBLING WAS UNLAWFUL WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS AND HEAVY PENALTIES WERE IMPOSED FOR OPERATING ESTABLISHMENTS IN WHICH UNLAWFUL GAMBLING TOOK PLACE.
HE SAID: +SECTION 3(4) OF THE GAMBLING ORDINANCE LIMITS THE EXTENT TO WHICH A PRIVATE CLUB OR ASSOCIATION, IN CONDUCTING GAMES OF MAHJONG BY WAY OF TRADE OR BUSINESS, MAY CHARGE THEIR MEMBERS FOR THE HIRE OF MAHJONG TILES. THIS LIMIT IS PRESENTLY FIXED AT $20 PER DAY.
+THUS, FRIENDLY ASSOCIATIONS AND PRIVATE CLUBS, EVEN IF REGISTERED, WHICH CHARGE THEIR MEMBERS MORE THAN $20 PER DAY FOR THE HIRE OF THE MAHJONG TILES WILL BE DEEMED TO BE GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS AND PEOPLE WHO PLAY MAHJONG THERE ARE LIABLE TO BE PROSECUTED,+
MR THOMAS STRESSED THAT THE POLICE DIRECTED THEIR EFFORTS PRINCIPALLY AT THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS WHICH EXISTED PRIMARILY OR SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF GAMBLING.
/+THESE PROVISIONS
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