XN000022-1993-04-06 — Page 26

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

25

MORE MARK SIX PROCEEDS FOR WELFARE

THAT

THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF THE MARK SIX LOTTERY PROCEEDS GIVEN TO THE LOTTERIES FUND SO MORE MONEY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SOCIAL WELFARE AND REHABILITATION SERVICES.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (TUESDAY), A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAD ACCEPTED AN OFFER BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB TO REDUCE ITS FRE FOR RUNNING THE MARK SIX LOTTERY.

AT PRESENT, THE JOCKEY CLUB RECEIVES 7.5% OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE LOTTERY. ITS SHARE WILL BE REDUCED TO 6% IN FAVOUR OF THE LOTTERIES FUND. THE FUND'S SHARE WILL BE INCREASED FROM 3.5% TO 5%.

THIS WILL PROVIDE A FURTHER BOOST TO THE FUNDING OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND REHABILITATION SERVICES ON TOP OF THE DECISION ANNOUNCED IN THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS ΤΟ INJECT $2.3 BILLION INTO THE LOTTERIES FUND.

THE GOVERNMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED BOARD'S APPLICATION TO EXPAND TICKETS HAD BEEN REJECTED.

SALES

THAT THE HONG KONG LOTTERIES OUTLETS FOR MARK SIX LOTTERY

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT IN MARCH 1990 THE HONG KONG LOTTERIES BOARD APPLIED TO THE GOVERNMENT TO EXPAND MARK SIX SALES OUTLETS OUTSIDE OFF-COURSE BETTING CENTRE (OCBCS),

AFTER CONSULTING THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO RUN A PILOT SCHEME WHICH TOOK PLACE BETWEEN OCTOBER 1991 AND APRIL 1992 IN 12 CSL SHOPS, TWO OPINION SURVEYS WERE CONDUCTED AND ALL DISTRICT BOARDS WERE CONSULTED.

IN VIEW OF THE COMMUNITY'S RESERVATION THAT EXPANDING MARK SIX SALES OUTLETS MAY ENCOURAGE GAMBLING, THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL DECIDES THAT THE PROPOSAL BE REJECTED, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.

NEW APPOINTMENTS TO DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AWARD COUNCIL

* * *

TO THE AWARD

THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED TWO NEW MEMBERS COUNCIL OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AWARD SCHEME FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM AS FROM APRIL 1.

THEY ARE MISS TANG YUEN-YU AND MRS CHAN SIU MIU-CHEE.

HUNG-LEUNG AND MR TO SERVE FOR ANOTHER

MR WILLIAM WAN HON-CHEUNG, MR LINCOLN 900 ALEX WONG PO-HANG HAVE BEEN RE-APPOINTED TWO-YEAR TERM, STARTING FROM THE SAME DATE.

INTRODUCED TO HONG KONG IN 1961, THE SCHEME WAS THE BRAINCHILD OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE PHILIP WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE GOOD USE OF THEIR LEISURE TIME BY TAKING PART IN VARIOUS ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITIES.

JA FULL