TNAG-1609-FCO40-22131-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 41

Control of friendly associations

Reply by the Secretary for security to a question

by Dr. The Hon. Daniel TSA, OBE. JP.

in the Legislative Council on wednesday, 25 November 1987

8. Dr. TSE asked (in Cantonese):

lc

Given that there are well-known cases where some so-called friendly associations registered under the Societies Ordinance (Cap 151) are running unlicensed restaurants and conducting games of mahjong on their premises, will Government inform this Council what are the existing controls on these establishments; who are enforcing these controls; and whether such controls are considered adequate?

SECRETARY FOR SECURITY:

Sir,

Control of the etablishments to which my honorable cep friend is referring is contained principally in the Gambling

Ordinance, the Societies Ordinance, cap 151, and, from the public health aspect, in the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, aptiga There has been some controversy in recent months over interpretation and enforcement of the law and I hope that my answer this afternoon will clear up some of the misunderstanding.

Playing mahjong is lawful in premises occupied or used by a society registered under the Societies Ordinance only provided (a) a fee is not charged for admission to the

fust of alt,

secondly,

premises; (b) the game does not involve playing against a bank

Third, kept by one or more of the players; and the game is not promoted by way of trade or business or for the private gain

of any person except the players.

The Societies Ordinance, ap, allows action to be taken against a registered society which is suspected to have been involved in unlawful gambling. Under section 8 of this Ordinance, if it appears to the Registrar of Societies

(that is the Commissioner of Police) that the activities of

to say