28/11/2000 Proposed legislation to prevent foreign companies from targeting Hong Kong Residents does not cover Web sites, print media and mobile phones
A new bill before Hong Kong's Legislative Council that hopes to restrict gambling within Hong Kong will not address online gambling sites. The Gambling (Amendment) Bill 2000, approaching its second reading in the Legislative Council, is intended to combat the activities of unauthorized offshore bookmakers taking bets from Hong Kong residents. At present, gambling in Hong Kong is officially limited to licensed and monitored establishments. "In recent years, however, there has been a notable increase in the activities of offshore bookmakers in Hong Kong," said Leo Kwan, Hong Kong's Secretary for Home Affairs. "They provide betting-related services and promote their business in Hong Kong to induce Hong Kong people to bet with them. These include some offshore bookmaking companies and Internet gambling operators." Kwan admitted that with technological advancement, the original laws have become inadequate in dealing with foreign companies taking bets from Hong Kong citizens. To prevent even more operations targeting Hong Kong residents, Kwan is proposing an amendment that will make it illegal for offshore companies to promote bookmaking or take bets from Hong Kong residents. The broadcast on TV or radio into Hong Kong of any odds or tips for any unauthorized horse or dog race will be banned. However, Web sites, print media and mobile phones will escape the restrictions. According to Kwan, "We have not included the Internet in the coverage of the provision because even if regulation was put in place, offshore bookmakers could evade the law by setting up Web sites outside Hong Kong over which we have no jurisdiction."
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