SLW: Mark Six Celebrates 50 Years of Community Impact and Hope in Hong Kong

Speech by SLW at opening ceremony of Mark Six 50th Anniversary Exhibition

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, at the opening ceremony of the Mark Six 50th Anniversary Exhibition this afternoon (April 30):

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, Photo by Bastille Post

Winfried (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges); Adrian (Chairman of the Betting and Lotteries Commission, Mr Adrian Yip); Raymond (Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Raymond Tam), Gabriel (Executive Director, Charities and Community of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Dr Gabriel Leung), Edward (Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To), dear legislators, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Fifty years ago, when Mark Six was conceived, I believe no one could have imagined what a huge success it has become, and also the huge impact it is making on our society. Mark Six has not just become a household name, probably the most well-known household name here in Hong Kong, it has also become part of the daily lexicon and a part of the vocabulary. Probably a lot of people have dreamed about winning Mark Six, day in and day out, and I think this is a very important part of it.

It is with great honour that I join you this afternoon for the opening of this very special exhibition, marking the 50th anniversary of Mark Six. Today is part of the celebration, not just about, as Winfried said, the lottery history, but also about making use of the proceeds from Mark Six that hold countless lives that have been touched, supported, and uplifted through the proceeds of every ticket sold. I would like to invite each of you to take a bit of your time to explore what is on display here, because behind every exhibit here lies a story of hope transformed into social good.

Every time a citizen, you and me, buys a Mark Six ticket, of course this is giving us a hope of winning, for a couple of days or hours. But perhaps less visible but equally important is what happens regardless of the outcome. Every time you buy a ticket, you make a contribution to the community, because all the funding will go towards welfare needs, helping the old, the sick, the disabled, the disadvantaged, and everyone who is in need of whatever kind of welfare services. In this sense, Mark Six is truly remarkable because this is a shared act of participation that generates collective benefit for all of us.

As Winfried has just said, over the past half century, through the Mark Six proceeds, it has generated $30 billion for our Lottery Fund to support 25 000 projects across more than 300 non-government organisations. I think even that $30 billion is understated, because it is not taking into account the time value of money. One dollar in 1976 is not equal to one dollar as of today. So if we translate everything into money of today, it would be far more than $30 billion. Thank you very much to all of us for the contributions we made to Mark Six.

Making use of today's occasion, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for your exemplary stewardship over the past 50 years. Through the close collaboration with the Government and the welfare sector, the Club has ensured that lottery proceeds are channelled responsibly and effectively to help those who are in need. I am sure this enduring partnership will continue, which is also a testament to what can be achieved when public, private, and civil society work together toward a shared mission.

As we mark this golden jubilee, we look forward to an even brighter future. The Government remains firmly committed to working alongside the Hong Kong Jockey Club and also our welfare partners to build on this proud legacy, to ensure that for the next 50 years, we will continue to transform hope into social good for every member of our community.

Thank you very much.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the speech.)

The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Photo source: reference image

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products

Three incoming passengers were sentenced to between three to six months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts yesterday (May 4) and today (May 5) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as for importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).

Customs officers intercepted two incoming male passengers, aged 34 and 38, at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on May 1 and seized around 37 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with a market value of about $188,000 and a duty potential of about $124,000, as well as around 85 000 alternative smoking products, with a market value of about $229,000, from their personal baggage. The two passengers were subsequently arrested. They were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 yesterday.

In addition, Customs officers intercepted an incoming male passenger, aged 24, at HKIA yesterday. Customs officers seized about 30 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes from his personal baggage, with an estimated market value of about $121,000 and a duty potential of about $98,000. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 today.

Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases