Charitable fund and counselling centres to address problem gambling

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The Government has established a charitable fund to finance preventive and remedial measures against gambling-related problems and has also selected Caritas and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals to run two counselling and treatment centres for problem and pathological gamblers.

In addition to the series of public education measures on problem gambling already implemented, the Government will commission the Hong Kong Education City, an educational institution wholly-owned by the Education and Manpower Bureau, to launch a two-year education campaign targetting young people, school students, teachers and parents on gambling-related issues.

The Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, said today (September 4) that the package of preventive and educational measures aimed at raising overall public awareness of the harm of excessive gambling and minimising the adverse impact of gambling-related problems on the community.

The Ping Wo Fund, a charitable trust fund, is established under the Secretary for Home Affairs with contributions from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which has undertaken to contribute a total of $24 million within the next two years and $12 million to $15 million each year in the following three years. The fund also welcomes donations from the public.

Dr Ho said: "The Chinese name of the fund, Ping Wo, means balance and harmony, advocating the pursuit of a balanced and harmonious life, as a safeguard against over-indulgence in gambling.

"Gambling to excess, like many other activities, can cause serious problems."

The ambit of the Ping Wo Fund is mainly to finance:

- research and studies into problems and issues relating to gambling;

- public education and other measures to prevent or alleviate problems relating to gambling;

- counselling, treatment and other remedial or support services for problem and pathological gamblers and those affected by them;

A Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee will be established to give advice on the use and application of the fund.

Professor Tam Sheung Wai, President of the Open University of Hong Kong, has been appointed as the Chairman of the advisory committee. Professor Tam used to sit on the councils of many local universities. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the United Christian Hospital, and the Board of Governors of the Hong Kong Bible Society.

The other five non-official members of the advisory committee are:

(a) Mr Chui Pak Ming

- A practising solicitor

- Member of a number of appeal boards and tribunals

(b) Mr Ho Hon Kuen

- Vice Principal of a secondary school and Vice Chairman of Education Convergence

- Member of the Football Betting and Lotteries Commission

- A practising accountant

- President of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups

(d) Dr David Tsang Fan Kwong

- A practising psychiatrist

(e) Prof Angelina Yuen Tsang Woon Ki

- Associate Head of the Department of Applied Social Sciences, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University

- Member of the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund Committee and Social Workers Registration Board

The advisory committee also includes representatives of the Secretary for Home Affairs, Secretary for Education and Manpower and Director of Social Welfare as official members.

Dr Ho said Caritas and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, which have been chosen following an open tender exercise, are expected to begin operating the two dedicated counselling and treatment centres for problem and pathological gamblers next month.

"These two organisations have a long history of expertise and experience in providing social services. We are confident of their abilities in running the centres," Dr Ho said.

In the meantime, a university will be commissioned to assist the Government in evaluating and monitoring the performance and effectiveness of the pilot counselling and treatment services with a view to drawing up the most effective service model for Hong Kong.

The Government will also be commissioning an academic institution later this year to carry out a tracking study on the impact of gambling participation, and the prevalence of problem and pathological gambling in Hong Kong.

Under the Government's public education programme, television and radio announcements on the adverse consequences of excessive gambling have been broadcast since July. Posters and banners to warn against excessive gambling have also been displayed in various places, including Off-Course Betting Branches. More announcements and a TV documentary drama on gambling-related issues will be produced later.

End/Thursday, September 4, 2003

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