309043-1941-Supplementary-Bills-read-a-first-time--Places-of-Public-Entertainment-Regulation-Amendment — Page 2

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Objects and Reasons.

1. The object of the proposed new section in the Places of Public Entertainment Regulation Ordinance is to put an end to a ticket-selling racket which has grown into an intoler- able nuisance.

2. Briefly, the trouble is that touts, acting for individuals or gangs who have bought quantities of tickets in advance, stand about in the streets adjoining and the entrance halls of and approaches to, cinemas, theatres and sports grounds, sometimes even obstructing the entrances, box-offices or turn- stiles, importuning would-be entrants to buy their tickets from them, and often representing that all other seats are fully booked.

3. Not only have complaints against this nuisance been received from entertainment organizers and the public, but there is cause to believe that the operations of gangs or roughs, interested in the sale at their own prices of these tickets, have resulted in several assaults on members of the public and even in a street murder outside a theatre.

December, 1940.

C. G. ALABASTER,

A BILL

INTITULED

Attorney General.

[No. 30:12.12.40.-2.]

An Ordinance to amend the Entertainments Tax Ordinance,

1930.

BE it enacted by the Governor of Hong Kong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Entertainments Short title. Tax Amendment Ordinance, 1941.

2. Section 5 (1) (a) of the Entertainments Tax Ordin- Amendment ance, 1930, is amended by the substitution of the words of Ordin-

four cents' for the words twenty cents".

ance No. 28 of 1930, s. 5 (1) (a).