In 1971/72, as part of the efforts in upgrading the standard of racing and in providing better services to meet increasing demand from racegoers, the status of Hong Kong jockey was changed from amateur to professional. It was envisaged by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club that this change must be accompanied by increased riding opportunities so as to provide a reasonable income to the professional riders. Consequently, the number of racing fixtures was increased from 32 in 1971/72 to 50 in 1977/78 and, with the opening of the Sha Tin Race Course, to 69 in the current racing
season.
A
10
Exotic pools offering high dividends for the relatively small outlay have been introduced since 1973/74. The number of off-course betting centres has grown from 28 in late 1974 to 114 in mid-1978. With increased betting opportunity and variety, there has also been a corresponding increase in the total turnover on horse racing from $576 million in 1972/73 to $3, 365 million in 1977/78 (Annex A).
"FF
11
For the lotteries, which started off with a weekly draw in September 1975 and increased to two draws per week in May 1976, the average turnover per draw has increased from about $1.3 million in 1975/76 to just under $3.6 million in 1977/78, and the total annual turnover from about $182 million in 1976/77 to just over $367 million in 1977/78 (Annex B).
12
The growth in the total turnover for legal betting may be partly due to the increase in the number of betting events and the attraction of new customers. But it is unlikely to be an entirely new activity and, consequently, represents some diversion from illegal betting. Before off-course betting was legalised,the Police estimate was that the amount of illegal off-course betting on horse racing was between two to five times the total turnover of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, that is, between HK$1, 200 to $3,000 million per annum. Judging from the reduced current estimate for illegal gambling, and the growth in the turnover for legal betting, it would appear that a substantial portion of the former illegal betting activities must have now been diverted to legal channels. The Police are of the opinion that, without the provision of legal outlets, the level of illegal gambling activities would not have been reduced so significantly.
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L
LIS
VO, AITA
CONFIDENTIAL B
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