【明報專訊】There has been an ongoing debate over the ideal approach to gambling: Should it be banned altogether or regulated with a view to minimising its impacts on society? In Hong Kong, today in 1971, the British colonial government attempted the latter by turning horse racing into a professional sport.

1. Horse racing and the Hong Kong Jockey Club

Horse racing in Hong Kong was introduced by the British in 1841. The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), which was founded in 1884, was tasked with the organisation of all racing activities, which were then performed by amateurs.

The sport became professional in 1971 after a race-fixing scandal had happened. Two years later, the colonial government authorised the HKJC to set up Off-Course Betting branches (場外投注站). In 1977 the Gambling Ordinance(《賭博條例》) was enacted.

2. Should gambling be regulated?

Apart from horse racing, the HKJC nowadays handles the Mark Six Lottery (六合彩) and football betting. The government's decision to regulate the latter in 2003 triggered a heated debate.

Proponents argued that it was difficult to ban football betting completely, saying that would only encourage people to engage in illicit (非法的) gambling. They argued that, by regulating football betting, the government could increase its revenue (which it could use to promote sports) and at the same time deprive organised crime of a major source of income.

However, opponents were worried that, by legalising football betting, the government would send young people a wrong message. Thinking gambling to be acceptable, they would be encouraged to place bets. Some believed the regulation of gambling would promote rather than root out illegal gambling because, like drugs and alcohol, it is addictive.

3. Should there be a casino in HK?

Should there be a casino in Hong Kong? This question has arisen from the debate about gambling. No doubt most Hong Kong people are against the idea. They argue that casinos not only have a detrimental (有害的) effect on young people but also are incompatible (不相配) with Hong Kong's image as a financial city and a knowledge-based economy. However, lawmaker James Tien (田北俊), a long-time proponent of the casino idea, believes that, if there are casinos in Hong Kong, the government's revenue will go up, unemployment will fall, and it will not be necessary to introduce any new taxes.

The casino question has aroused much controversy in Taiwan. A piece of legislation the Legislative Yuan (立法院) adopted in 2009 allows casinos to be built in resort areas on outlying islands if the idea is supported by the majority in a referendum (公投). That year people in Penghu County (澎湖縣) vetoed the idea of building a casino there. In 2012, another referendum was held in Matsu (馬祖), and the idea was adopted by a margin of nearly 15%. Taiwan's first casino is scheduled to open in 2019.

■Think and Study

Do you think a referendum is an effective way of settling disputes about gambling regulation ? Explain your answer.