XN000022-1995-11-29 — Page 38

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The power conferred under section 7 of the Ordinance relates to the making of regulations to govern the manner for the collection of betting duty. It is minor in nature and is rarely exercised. It is proposed that the aforesaid power should be transferred from the Governor in Council to the Secretary for the Treasury, in line with prevailing practice. Clause 3 of the Bill amends section 7 of the Ordinance to achieve the above purpose.

Mr President, the Bill imposes rates of duty in respect of the Quinella Place bet and the overseas bets on Hong Kong races into the Hong Kong pools. The Bill is in line with our gambling policy and will result in additional betting duty which could be allocated to Hong Kong's social services. I recommend the Bill to Members.

Thank you, Mr President.

End/Wednesday, November 29, 1995

Estate Agents Bill

Following is the speech by the Secretary of Housing, Mr Dominic Wong, in moving the second reading of the Estate Agents Bill in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

I move the Second Reading of the Estate Agents Bill.

The purpose of the Bill is to improve the standard of services provided by estate agents and to give greater protection to consumers involved in property transactions, thereby also enhancing the image and status of the trade.

The Bill has its origins in a Working Group established in late 1993, with representatives from the Government, the trade, the Law Society, the Consumer Council and the ICAC, and others, in response to growing public concern about malpractice by some estate agents. The Working Group's recommendations were published for public consultation in late 1994 and they received wide support. The Government has accepted the recommendations generally.