COMMON GAMING HOUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

11.30 a.m.

The Chief Secretary (Mr E. B. David): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, this is a further measure to strengthen the hands of the police in controlling the activities of gangsters and members of secret societies. Amongst the activities of secret societies, the organisation of gambling holds an important place, and not only do members of secret societies organise gambling for their own profit, but through the operation of their methods of extortion, they prey upon all those who make their living from gambling.

Common gaming houses are, in fact, common resorts for gangsters, robbers and thieves who are prone to gambling and often find the wherewithal for their gambling through their criminal activities.

For the rest, Sir, the reasons which I gave in moving the amendments to the Betting Ordinance a few minutes ago hold good in respect of the amendments to this Ordinance too.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. [Mr David.]

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read the Third time and passed.