Remarks by CE at media session before ExCo
Following are the remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting today (April 21):
Reporter: Good morning, Chief Executive. First question on basketball betting: Is there a timetable to advance basketball betting following the review of the prediction market and whether such a policy U-turn implies a lack of thorough planning in policy making, and whether such a move is to align Beijing's efforts to crack down on gambling activities? And second question on Wang Fuk Court: Residents are returning home. Will the Government provide further flexibility and support, given that we see some cases of residents becoming unwell after climbing stairs, and how would the authorities follow up the suspected theft cases in the blocks and address the concerns of the residents? Thank you.
Chief Executive: The Government's established policy is not to encourage gambling. When the Government implements the Gambling Ordinance or its related policies, it is appropriate for the responsible bureau, which is the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), to regularly review the situation. If they have found risks they want to address so as to ensure that the risks will be properly mitigated, then it is important that they think thoroughly before they proceed further, so as to ensure that all these risks are properly controlled. I think that is a right approach, and it is also right to be cautious, because we never encourage gambling, and we will only do it if we, after assessing all the risks, consider it is really worth it; if we are not certain it is worth it, then it is better that we do not proceed before we are certain.
The rapid growth of the prediction market is really beyond anybody's expectation, if you look at it simply from the gambling point of view. But it is more than gambling; it is to do with a lot of speculation that sometimes makes use of virtual assets. We have to be very sure how it will impact the gambling scene in Hong Kong. The growth in two years - if you just look at the figures - is 130 times, and that is a very fast pace of growth. That pace is also growing. We will be seeing its market growing at such a scale that if we do not seriously look at the risks they will create, I do not think it is a right thing for the bureau to just blindly go ahead with what has been suggested. Also, the prediction market covers different kinds of activities, and statistics indicate that 40 per cent cover sports events. It is a worrying trend. I support the HYAB to seriously look at the risks and make sure that they address the risks appropriately before they proceed any further.
The other thing I have noted is the Hong Kong Jockey Club has been doing very well in offering legal gambling in areas such as horse racing, football betting and also Mark Six. They have been doing it very well and, at the same time, have been devoting a lot of resources to community and charitable activities. I recognise their contributions, and I recognise their efforts. I am confident that they will continue to run the existing legal gambling operations well and also remain fully committed to devoting resources to social and charity activities.
In regard to the arrangements that we are making for the families of Wang Fuk Court to go back to their houses to collect their belongings, particularly things that mean a lot to them, I think yesterday's arrangements went very smoothly. It was done in an orderly manner, and it was conducted without real issues, and it was conducted with several important principles in mind, which include safety, orderliness and compassion. I am very relieved to see that the 1 000 officials that we have deployed were all doing their job with full regard to the principles and considerations that I have mentioned, and they have voluntarily done a lot of extra things to ensure that the interests and conditions of the families who went up yesterday were well taken care of. I have heard from some who were involved in the arrangements, when they were interviewed by the media, by TV, that they actually considered the arrangements were helping them. I was also very relieved to know that some members indeed got what they had been hoping to find, and some even got some surprises, which was reassuring. We will continue to monitor the arrangements and, if there's anything we can do better, then of course we will consider them. Two things that we will do are, first of all, making the area for people to put on their gear larger, so that it will be less crowded and more convenient. The second thing: We will put up awnings in case it will be raining at some time. Any further arrangements that will help the people concerned, particularly from the angle of safety, orderliness and compassion, we will do our best to help.
Of course, people have to really consider their own conditions when they think of going back to their places, because there are no lifts; they indeed have to walk up high floors and staircases. They have to assess whether they can do it, and if they are really determined to do it, they have to do it in their own way. We are very willing to help, and we have arranged medical assistance at any time. We have also arranged for clinical psychologists to help anybody who thinks our services are needed. We do anything we can to ensure that things really meet the demands of the people involved.
Yes, there were several reports about property not being found. In fact, eight of them have been resolved, with four cases where the property was recovered, and another four in which the residents, after thinking more about it, considered that the property concerned might have been burnt. The remaining three will be investigated by the Police. Of course, they are very professional in this area; I will leave the investigation to them.
Today we will start the second day of the arrangements. I know that another 10 floors will be open for residents to go up to. They are higher floors. The first day was below the 10th floor. Now it's above the 10th floor. We will do our best to assist those who need our assistance, and we will be proactively offering our assistance wherever we can. Thank you.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, Photo source: reference image
