XN000022-1990-06-06 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990

TIGHTENED GAMBLING BILL WELCOMED

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MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AD HOC GROUP FORMED TO STUDY THE GAMBLING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1989 TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WELCOMED THE BILL WHICH WOULD IMPOSE MORE STRINGENT ENFORCEMENT MEASURES AND TOUGHER PENALTIES AGAINST ILLEGAL GAMBLING.

THE

SPEAKING IN THE COUNCIL IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, HON NGAI SHIU-KIT SAID THE PROPOSED TIGHTENING OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE ORDINANCE AND THE INCREASE IN THE MAXIMUM FINES FOR OPERATORS OF ILLEGAL GAMBLING ENTERPRISES WOULD DEAL A SEVERE BLOW TO THESE OPERATORS AND DETER PEOPLE FROM PATRONISING ILLEGAL GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS.

THE BILL ALSO CARRIED AN INCREASE IN MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR VARIOUS GAMBLING OFFENCES APART FROM INCREASING THE MAXIMUM FINES FOR OPERATORS OF ILLEGAL GAMBLING ENTERPRISES FROM $500,000 TO $5 MILLION, HE NOTED.

MR NGAI SAID THE AD HOC GROUP HAD EXPRESSED CONCERN IN TWO AREAS, WHICH HAD BEEN ACCORDINGLY DEALT WITH BY THE ADMINISTRATION AFTER DELIBERATIONS.

ADOPTED BY I.E. WHILE

THE FIRST WAS THE SEEMINGLY CONTRADICTORY APPROACH THE ADMINISTRATION TOWARDS ILLEGAL GAMBLING ACTIVITIES, TAKING TOUGHER MEASURES TO ERADICATE ILLEGAL GAMBLING KONG, OFFSHORE BUT HONG KONG BASED GAMBLING ON FLOATING CASINOS WAS TOLERATED.

WITHIN HONG

MR NGAI SAID THE AD HOC GROUP WAS PLEASED ΤΟ LEARN THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAD DECIDED TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM OF FLOATING CASINOS AND THAT LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS WERE BEING DRAFTED FOR SUBMISSION ΤΟ LEGCO.

SECONDLY, THE GROUP HAD RESERVATION ON THE PROPOSED OUTRIGHT ABOLITION OF THE REQUIREMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CONSENT BEFORE INSTITUTING PROSECUTIONS RELATING TO ASSISTING IN BOOKMAKING AS IT WOULD REMOVE THE SAFEGUARD FOR INNOCENT PERSONS.

MR NGAI SAID THE GROUP PROPOSED THAT THE REQUIREMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CONSENT BE RETAINED AND THAT A NEW PROVISION SHOULD BE INTRODUCED TO EMPOWER THE COURTS TO AMEND CHARGES UNDER SECTION 7(1)(A) OR (B) TO ONE UNDER SECTION 7(1)(C).

THE PROPOSAL WAS AGREED BY THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE MOVED IN THE COMMITTEE STAGE, HE ADDED.

AND AMENDMENTS

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