XN000022-1994-03-31 — Page 7

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1994

5

EXCO ENDORSES MORE CONTROL OVER MAHJONG PARLOURS

MEASURES TO

THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO STEP UP CONTROL LICENSED MAHJONG PARLOURS (LMPS), MAHJONG PLAYING IN CLUBS AND

AND RESTAURANTS,

SELLING ACTIVITIES LOTTERIES IN HONG KONG.

PROMOTIONAL

AND

OF FOREIGN

SAID

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (FRIDAY), A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN

HAS GIVEN APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE TO THE THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL GAMBLING (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) REGULATION L994. THE GAMBLING (AMENDMENT} BILL WILL BE GAZETTED ON APRIL 15 AND INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON APRIL 27.

OUTLINING

THE

PROPOSALS,

THE

SPOKESMAN

SAID

ADDITIONAL ΤΟ ENSURE LICENSING CONDITIONS FOR LMPS WOULD INCLUDE REQUIREMENTS

LICENSEE AT THESE LICENSED THAT ALL EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS OF THE

FOR TELEVISION AND PREMISES WERE APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING (CTEL).

KEEP

A

FOR

SHOULD SECONDLY, ALL LICENSEES OF THESE PARLOURS

AVAILABLE MAKE ALL

AND EMPLOYEES REGISTER OF DETAILED INSPECTION BY CTEL AND POLICE OFFICERS.

IT

THIRDLY, THE LICENSEE OR HIS AGENT MUST BE PRESENT PREMISES THROUGHOUT THE HOURS OF PLAY.

AT THE

FOURTHLY, THE LICENCE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE.

ALL THESE MEASURES, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT, ARE

DESIGNED

TO FACILITATE CTEL AND THE POLICE TO MONITOR THE OPERATION OF LMPS AND MINIMISE TRIAD INVOLVEMENT IN THEIR OPERATION.

TURNING TO MAHJONG PLAYING IN CLUBS AND RESTAURANTS, HE THAT IT WAS STILL THE POLICY INTENTION TO ALLOW LAWFUL GAMING IN FORM OF SOCIAL RECREATION IN THESE PREMISES.

SAID

THE

BE

TO CONTINUE WITH THIS POLICY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WOULD

GAMING WAS NECESSARY TO AMEND THE GAMBLING ORDINANCE SO THAT LAWFUL PERMITTED IN LICENSED RESTAURANTS OR IN CLUBS LICENSED UNDER THE CLUBS (SAFETY OF PREMISES) ORDINANCE.

IN AND TO FURTHER REGULATE THE OPERATION OF MAHJONG PLAYING

THE MANAGEMENT OR THE

ALSO PROPOSES THAT BILL THESE PREMISES,

GAMES WITH EMPLOYEES SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE THEIR CLIENTS.

"THIS IS TO PREVENT THE OPERATORS FROM MAKING PROFIT THIS," THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.

THROUGH

FURTHERMORE, IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE FEE TO BE CHARGED FOR SET OF MAHJONG TILES BE REVISED FROM $20 TO $80 A DAY.

A

THE CURRENT FEE WAS SET IN 1977 AND THE PROPOSED REVISION GENERALLY IN LINE WITH INFLATION.

IS

/THE ABOVE