XN000022-1987-11-25 — Page 13

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1987

12

LAW ON GAMBLING CONTROL MAY NEED CLARIFICATION

*

PXISTING GOVERNMENT CONTROLS

ARE

OF REGISTERED ASSOCIATIONS

IN RECENT MONTHS OVER CONTROVERSY SOME ADEQUATE, ALTHOUGH

MAY BE INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW SUGGESTS THAT THERE

FOR

THE HON SECURITY,

DAVID THE SECRETARY A NEED TO CLARIFY IT, JFALFRESON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN

SOCIETIES

MR JEAFFRESON REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON DANIEL TSE, SAID THAL, SUBJECT TO THREE CONDITIONS, PLAYING MAHJONG WAS LAWFUL PREMISES OCCUPIED OR USED BY A SOCIETY REGISTERED UNDER THE ORDENANCE.

ADMISSION TO KEPT BY ONE THE GAME BY WAY OF ANY PERSON EXCEPT TEEF

THE CONDITIONS WERE: (A) NOT TO CHARGE A FEE FOR THE PREMISES; (B) NOT TO INVOLVE PLAYING AGAINST A BANK OR MORE OF THE PLAYERS; AND (C) NOT TO PROMOTE TRADE OR BUSINESS OR FOR THE PRIVATE GAIN OF PLAYERS,

TO

ACTION HAVE BEEN

MR JHAFFRESON SAID THAT THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE, ALLOWED

SOCIETY SUSPECTED A TO RE TAKEN AGAINST INVOLVED IN UNLAWFUL GAMBLING.

REGISTERED

REGISTRAR

OF

THAT SOCIETIES,

IS THE SOCIETY RULES, HE MAY ORDER

IF IT APPEARS TO THE COMMISSJONER OF POLICE, THAT THE ACTIVITIES OF ANY REGISTERED ARE NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS CONSTITUTION OR THE SOCIETY TO STOP THOSE ACTIVITIES.

IF A SOCIETY IGNORES THIS WARNING, THE COMMISSIONER OF MAY CANCIL ITS REGISTRATION," HE SAID.

POLICE

TO OPERATE, WOULD BE LIABLE TO

MR JFAFERESON ADDED THAT IF THE SOCIETY CONTINUED WOULD NE AN UNLAWFUL, SOCIETY AND ITS MEMBERS PROSECUTION,

OF

POLICE

WAS

ALSO

RESPONSIBLE

FOR

JEAFFRESON

THF COMMISSIONER ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST GROUPS INVOLVED IN GAMBLING, MR

SAID.

"HF PAYS

PARTICULAR ATTENTION

ΤΟ

OR

NOT THEY FALL

CLUBS AND

OF WITHIN THE CONTROL

ASSOCIATIONS, THE SOCIETIES

ORDINANCE WILICH HE BELIEVES ARE FRONTS FOR GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS.

H

t

INVOLVED

HE SAID.

OR SUSPECTED TO BE SOME OF THESE ARE ALSO KNOWN, WITH, TRIADS AND OTHER ORGANISED CRIMINAL SYNDICATES,

BUT BE POINTED OUT THAT LAW-ABIDING ASSOCIATIONS HAD NOTHING TO FEAR.

'WE ARE NOW REVIEWING THE GAMBLING ATTENTION TO THE PLAYING OF MAHJONG,

BONA FIDE SOCIETIES ANI!

ORDINANCE WITH PARTICULAR

HE ADDED.

/ON THE