XN000022-1992-11-25 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1992

SHA OUTLINES GOVT POLICY ON GAMBLING

THE

GAMBLING

GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON

IS TO RESTRICT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GAMBLING BUT TO ALLOW CONTROLLED OUTLETS FOR SUCH ACTIVITIES, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN PRACTICE, THIS MEANS STRICT LAWS AND FIRM ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL GAMBLING ACTIVITIES, SUPPORTED BY THE PROVISION OF CONTROLLED ALTERNATIVES WHERE A COGENT NEED FOR SUCH ALTERNATIVES HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, HE SAID.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ZACHARY WONG WAI-YIN, MR SUEN ALSO SAID OFF-COURSE BETTING CENTRES (OCBCs), INTRODUCED IN 1974 AS ONE OF THE MEASURES TO COMBAT ILLEGAL GAMBLING ON HORSE RACING, HAD PROVED MOST EFFECTIVE.

AS REGARDS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF OCBCs WHICH MAY ESTABLISHED, MR SUEN SAID IT WAS 134 A FIGURE ADOPTED IN 1979.

BE

"THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF CENTRES HAS FLUCTUATED

OVER THE YEARS, FROM 121 IN THE 1983/84 RACING SEASON TO 130 IN 1989/90.

"AT PRESENT THERE ARE 125.

"

ON THE CRITERIA FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OCBC, MR SUEN SAID EACH APPLICATION WAS CONSIDERED ON ITS INDIVIDUAL MERITS.

THESE INCLUDE THE SIZE OF THE PROPOSED CENTRE, ITS PROXIMITY TO EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES AS WELL PUBLIC OPINION AND POLICE COMMENTS ON THE LEVEL OF ILLEGAL PREVALENT IN THE AREA.

LOCATION, AS LOCAL GAMBLING

WOULD BE MADE

MR SUEN SAID THE NEW TUEN MUN OCBC THEATRE AVAILABLE FOR USE BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN DUE COURSE.

AND HE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICER WILL MONITOR THE USE OF THIS FACILITY CLOSELY.

THE NEW TUEN MUN OCBC COMPRISES 144 BETTING WINDOWS AND A BETTING THEATRE WITH A SEATING CAPACITY FOR 530 PEOPLE.

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