XN000022-1987-12-10 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1987

HE SAID THAT AS IN THE PREVIOUS TEST

RUN, ALTHOUGH THE BILL WAS DRAFTED AND GAZETTED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE AND THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BILINGUAL LEGISLATION AD HOC GROUP HAD SCRUTINISED BOTH VERSIONS OF THE BILL, ONLY THE ENGLISH TO BE PASSED INTO LAW AT THE MEETING.

TEXT WAS

HOWEVER, AFTER A FEW MORE TEST RUNS AND WHEN MORE EXPERIENCE IN BILINGUAL LEGISLATION WAS GAINED, IT WAS HOPED THAT A BILL IN BILINGUAL FORM COULD BE

INTO THE COUNCIL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

INTRODUCED

COMMENTING ON THE LINGUISTIC ASPECTS OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BILL, MR WONG SAID THAT THE CHINESE TEXT WAS A GREAT IMPROVEMENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES BILL, AS THE VOCABULARY, USE OF TECHNICAL EXPRESSIONS AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE WERE MORE IN CONFORMITY WITH THE DAILY CHINESE USAGE.

ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT

MR WONG THANKED ALL CONCERNED FOR THEIR AND CONTRIBUTION, ADDING THAT THE CHINESE TEXT OF THIS BILL WOULD SHORTLY BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION.

STRESSING THAT LEGAL BILINGUALISM WAS NEW BUT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, MR WONG URGED THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED TO PLACE GREATER EMPHASIS ON ATTRACTING AND KEEPING SUITABLY QUALIFIED STAFF IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND

JUDICIARY TO CARRY OUT NECESSARY RELATED PROJECTS.

THE

RHKJC TO RECEIVE FIXED PERCENTAGE RATE

FOR LOTTERY OPERATIONS

* * *

UNDER THE PROPOSED BETTING DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987, A FIXED 7.5 PER CENT OF THE PROCEEDS AFTER EACH LOTTERY WOULD BE PAYABLE ΤΟ THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB TO COVER ITS OPERATING EXPENSES, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (WEDNESDAY).

THE FIXED PERCENTAGE

RATES,

TODAY

IF APPROVED, SHOULD HAVE RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT FROM JULY 1, 1986, AND THE LOTTERIES BOARD HAD ESTIMATED THAT THE LOTTERIES FUND WOULD BENEFIT FROM AN ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION OF $27 MILLION IN RESPECT OF THE CLUB'S 1986/87 FINANCIAL YEAR, HE ADDED.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR FORD SAID THAT UNDER THE EXISTING BETTING DUTY ORDINANCE, THE HONG KONG LOTTERIES BOARD MIGHT USE THE FACILITIES OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB FOR CONDUCTING PERMITTED LOTTERIES AND REIMBURSE THE CLUB FOR THE ACTUAL OPERATING COSTS.

/AT PRESENT,