XN000022-1987-10-28 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1987

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"SECONDLY, THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG, IN OFFERING AN UNDERGRADUATE LAW DEGREE PROGRAMME IN 1988, HAS PLANS TO TEACH SOME LAW SUBJECTS IN CHINESE BY INTRODUCING 'CHINESE FOR LAWYERS' MODULES IN THE PROGRAMME.

**

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID THE LAW DRAFTING DIVISION IN HIS CHAMBERS WAS ASSISTING THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS WHERE IT COULD IN TRAINING FUTURE LAW GRADUATES BOTH BY PROVIDING LECTURERS AND BY ADVISING ON PLANNING THE CURRICULA.

THE

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BILINGUAL LAWS PROJECT WHICH IS AIMED AT PROVIDING TEXTS IN CHINESE ALL PRINTED LAWS. THIS PROJECT INVOLVES SETTING CHINESE EQUIVALENTS FOR LEGAL TERMS AND EXPRESSIONS USED IN LEGISLATION.

FOR

MR THOMAS ADDED THAT THE DIVISION WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAINING COUNSEL IN THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO DRAFT LAWS IN CHINESE AND FOR THE PREPARATION OF AUTHENTIC CHINESE TEXTS.

POLICY ON OFF-COURSE BETTING CENTRES EXPLAINED

CENTRES

IS

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON OFF-COURSE BETTING BASICALLY ONE OF RESTRICTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ILLEGAL BETTING BY ALLOWING CONTROLLED OUTLETS FOR PERMITTED BETTING ACTIVITIES, DAVID FORD TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE HON

IN A WRITTEN REPLY, IN HIS CAPACITY AS CHIEF SECRETARY, ΤΟ A QUESTION BY THE HON DESMOND LEE, MR FORD SAID THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO DIVERT UNLAWFUL BETTING INTO LAWFUL CHANNELS BY ENSURING THAT THERE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT CONTROLLED OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO WOULD BET.

HE STRESSED THAT THERE WERE ESTABLISHED CRITERIA FOR GRANTING PERMISSION TO THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB TO SET UP AN OFF-COURSE BETTING CENTRE. THEY WERE AS FOLLOWS:

THAT THERE WAS NO POLICE OBJECTION ON OPERATIONAL GROUNDS, SUCH AS SECURITY, ACCESSIBILITY, OBSTRUCTION, NUISANCE, ETC;

AN ASSESSMENT BY THE APPROPRIATE DISTRICT OFFICE OF THE VIEWS OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC LIVING IN THE VICINITY, ESPECIALLY ON WHETHER THERE WAS GOING ΤΟ BE STRONG OBJECTION FROM THEM;

A THAT SUCH