The reformation of gambling policy and its social impact in Hong Kong

Abstract

The gambling policy of Hong Kong had been adopted for more than thirty years without any significant changes since the introducing of the Gambling Ordinance (Chapter 148) in accordance with the Betting Duty Ordinance (Chapter 108) in the 1970s. Under the ordinances, all gambling activities which were not played on a social occasion for non-business purpose were unlawful except some specifically permission offered by the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB). Among all these exemptions, horse race betting and the Mark Six Lottery were the most prevalent and influential gambling activities. Hong Kong Jockey Club was the sole operator to organize these two gambling activities under SHA’s supervision.

Over the past decade, the Government has revised and implemented a series of new initiatives including the authorization and regulation of football betting, a reformation of duty system for horse race betting, and allowing additional local horse racedays and simulcast of international horse races for betting. The Government claims that a practical and pragmatic approach has been adopted in the formulation of gambling policy so that the balance of demand and views of opposition can be made. However, concern groups worry that such initiatives will encourage more people to take part in gambling activities, which may induce many social problems.

This paper will attempt to adopt the analytical framework of Kenneth J. Meier’s model of policy process to evaluate the policy outcomes and social impact from the reformation of gambling policy in Hong Kong by illustrating the interaction between four clusters of political actors during three different phases of the policy process.