XN000022-1990-03-21 — Page 22

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1990

I

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MORE STRINGENT CONTROL ON GAME CENTRES PROPOSED

AIMED AT BETTER THE EXECUTIVE

HON

A SET OF MORE RESTRICTIVE LICENCE CONDITIONS CONTROL OF AMUSEMENT GAME CENTRES WILL BE SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL SHORTLY, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE PETER TSAO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SAID CONDUCTED

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON TAI CHIN-WAH, MR TSAO THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING A REVIEW RECENTLY TO STRENGTHEN THE MONITORING OF THE CENTRES.

"VIEWS FROM THE PUBLIC AND DISTRICT BOARDS WERE SOUGHT, AS A WITH RESULT, AN APPLICANT FOR A NEW LICENCE IS NOW REQUIRED TO COMPLY EVEN MORE STRINGENT CRITERIA BEFORE A LICENCE IS GRANTED," HE SAID.

MR TSAO ADDED THAT THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING

WOULD STREAMLINE AUTHORITY

THE PROCEDURES FOR REVOKING, OR RENEWING, THE LICENCES OF REPEATED OFFENDERS SO AS TO MAKE THE MORE EFFECTIVE.

NOT SYSTEM

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE LICENCE CONDITIONS IMPOSED ON AMUSEMENT

THE GAME CENTRES WERE ENFORCED BY

POLICE WHO CHECKS ON THE ESTABLISHMENTS, WHILE THE THE

LICENSING, AS

REGULAR CARRIED OUT COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION

AUTHORITY, LICENSING

AND ENTERTAINMENT EMPOWERED TO REVOKE, OR REFUSE TO RENEW, A LICENCE.

"A BREACH OF LICENCE CONDITIONS UPON CONVICTION, TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF SIX MONTHS.

WAS

WILL SUBJECT THE LICENSEE,

AND $10,000

IMPRISONMENT FOR

TSAO

"REPEATED BREACHES MAY LEAD TO THE ISSUE OF WARNING LETTERS

++ MR LICENCE, AND FINALLY REVOCATION OF, OR REFUSAL TO RENEW, A SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IN 1989, THE POLICE ISSUED 2,406 AND SECURED 1,116 CONVICTIONS AGAINST AMUSEMENT GAME CENTRE WHO HAD BREACHED THEIR LICENCE CONDITIONS.

SUMMONSES OPERATORS

ISSUED AND IN THE SAME PERIOD, 150 WARNING LETTERS WERE

FIVE

BY LICENCES WERE NOT RENEWED

THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND

ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING, HE SAID.

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