XN000022-1993-06-30 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1993

PUBLIC TO BE CONSULTED ON MAHJONG PARLOURS CONTROL

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THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSULTING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS ON MEASURES TO STEP UP CONTROL OF PARLOURS (LMPS) AND UNLICENSED MAHJONG ASSOCIATIONS.

LICENSED MAHJONG

SPOKESMAN SALD FOLLOWED THE

OUTLINING THE RECOMMENDATIONS, A GOVERNMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY} THAT THE CONSULTATION EXERCISE ENDORSEMENT BY THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR of PROPOSALS TO STRENGTHEN THE EXISTING SYSTEM OF CONTROLS.

THE PROPOSALS WERE PUT FORWARD BY AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP SET UP IN 1990 TO REVIEW THE SITUATION.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT LMPS ARE PREMISES LICENSED FOR THE PLAYING OF GAMES IN WHICH MAHJONG OR TIN KAU TILES ARE USED.

MAHJONG PARLOURS WERE FIRST SUBJECT TO LICENSING

1956.

CONTROL IN

LICENCES ARE ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING (CTEL) UNDER SECTION 22(1)(B) OF THE GAMBLING ORDINANCE.

THE WORKING GROUP PROPOSED THAT THE LICENCE CONDITIONS FOR LMPS SHOULD BE TIGHTENED UP IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE STANDARD AND LEVEL OF SUPERVISION OF THESE PREMISES.

"THE INTENTION IS THAT THE REVISED LICENSE CONDITIONS, COUPLED WITH AN INCREASE IN POLICE INSPECTION OF LMPS, WILL RESULT IN BETTER REGULATION OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS," HE SAID.

THE PROPOSED ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS FOR LMPS WILL INCLUDE REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE THAT PERSONS EMPLOYED AT THE LICENSED PREMISES ARE APPROVED BY THE LICENSING AUTHORITY (CTEL) IN CONSULTATION WITH POLICE IN ORDER TO MINIMISE TRIAD INVOLVEMENT IN THE OPERATION OF LMPS.

UNDER THE PROPOSAL, THE LICENSEE OR HIS/HER AGENTS HAS ΤΟ BE PRESENT AT THE PREMISES AT ALL TIMES DURING THE HOURS OF PLAY 30 AS TO ENSURE THAT THE LICENSEE IS HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR BREACH OF LICENCE CONDITIONS TAKING PLACE AT HIS PARLOUR.

LICENCE

HE COULD NOT THEREFORE ARGUE THAT CONTRAVENTIONS OF CONDITIONS OCCURRED WITHOUT HIS KNOWLEDGE, CONSENT OR CONNİVANCE.

TURNING TO THE CONTROL OF UNLICENSED MAHJONG ASSOCIATIONS {UMAS) + THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THESE WERE CLUBS WHICH PROVIDED FACILITIES FOR THEIR MEMBERS TO PLAY MAHJONG AND CHARGED A FEE FOR SUCH SERVICES.

KAU

"THEY DIFFER FROM LMPS IN THAT THE UMAS DO NOT HOLD MAHJONG/TIN LICENCES, ALTHOUGH MAHJONG PLAYING IS THE MAJOR ACTIVITY PLACE IN THESE PREMISES."

TAKING

/HE SAID