XN000022-1987-11-24 — Page 3

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1987

METHODS OF REGULATING MAHJONG CLUBS UNDER STUDY

CLUBS BUSINESS, MR PETER

THE GOVERNMENT IS EXAMINING METHODS OF REGULATING THOSE WHICH MAKE MAHJONG GAMBLING ILLEGALLY THEIR PRIME AND ONLY THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND TSAO, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

INFORMATION,

FEDERATION OF HONG KONG SPEAKING AT A LUNCH MEETING OF THE

CLUBS OR ASSOCIATIONS WERE SET UP INDUSTRIES, MR TSAO SAID THESE

THE APPROVAL OF UNDER THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE AND THE CRITERIA FOR THEIR REGISTRATION OR THEIR EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION AS SUCH BE RELATIVELY EASILY FULFILLED.

COULD

DEGREE HE SAID THESE CLUBS, ONCE ESTABLISHED, ASSUMED THE SAME

ENJOYED AND THIS MADE THE OF PRIVACY AS ALL PRIVATE CLUBS RIGHTLY MONITORING OF THEIR ACTIVITIES DIFFICULT.

MAHJONG GAMBLING IN

CLUBS REQUIRED BY ONE OR

MR TSAO SAID THE LAW ON

THAT THE GAME DID NOT INVOLVE PLAYING AGAINST A BANK KEPT *TORE PLAYERS EXCLUSIVELY OF OTHERS.

WAY OF BUSINESS OTHERWISE THE GAME MUST NOT BE CONDUCTED BY

FEE OF $20 PER DAY PER SET OF THAN TO THE EXTENT OF CHARGING A

EXTENT OF MAHJONG TILES. AN INDIVIDUAL'S GAIN MUST BE LIMITED TO THE DIS WINNINGS AS A PLAYER.

AND

MR TSAO SAID SOME OF THESE CLUBS WERE BREAKING THESE RULES WERE I

IN EFFECT ILLEGAL GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS MAKING BIG BUSINESS AND PROFITS,

**

"THERE ARE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT SOME ARE UNDER UNDESIRABLE ELEMENTS, HE SAID.

THE CONTROL

TO TIME THE PROSECUTED

OPERATORS AND THOSE

OF BUCH IN INVOLVED

MR TSAO SAID THAT FROM TIME

SUCCESSFULLY BEEN OZEMISES HAD 11 LEGAL GAMBLING HAD ALSO BEEN PUNISHED.

THESE FREQUENT

ARE

HE

WHO

PLACES "IT IS CONCEIVABLE THAT SOME

THE LAW AND THERE UNAWARE OF

MAY WELL BE GROUNDS FOR FURTHER ADVERTISING THE RULES WHICH PERTAIN TO MAHJONG GAMBLING IN CLUBS,

SAID.

"IT IS INCONCEIVABLE HOWEVER THAT WE SHOULD THE LICENSING CRITERIA AND CONTROLS OF MAHJONG HOUSES AS HAS BEEN SUGGESTED," HE ADDED.

CONSIDER APPLYING TO ALL CLUBS,

MA TSAO

SAID THE

GOVERNMENT'S PRESENT POLICY ENCOURAGE GAMBLING AND TO RESTRICT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GAMBLING ALLOW CONTROLLED OUTLETS FOR CERTAIN FORMS OF GAMBLING WHERE A NEED FOR SUCH OUTLETS WAS ESTABLISHED.

IA "THIS POLICY ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST

BACKED UP BY RESTRICTIVE LAWS AND FIRM

HE SAID. ILLEGAL GAMBLING ACTIVITIES,

+

WAS NOT TO BUT TO COGENT

MR TSAO