'Jockey Club should be proud to pay new betting levy'
Home and Youth Affairs Secretary Alice Mak on Thursday said she believes the Jockey Club will be more than capable of paying a planned special football betting duty, and should be proud to be able to make a contribution towards Hong Kong's recovery after the pandemic. At a press conference held a day after Financial Secretary Paul Chan unveiled his budget proposals, Mak was asked whether it is really necessary to impose the annual HK$2.4 billion betting duty that will last for five years.  “We are in special times. You may have noticed that for many years, the Jockey Club has been well established as the major charitable organisation in Hong Kong, contributing to various charitable causes,” Mak said.  “It is common knowledge that a [government] deficit is to be expected and our fiscal position is not optimistic. Since the Jockey Club has been proud to be the major philanthropist in Hong Kong, there shouldn't be a problem for them to support the government by contributing an extra HK$2.4 billion every year during such difficult times,” she added. “The Jockey Club should be proud to be capable of helping Hong Kong in its development.”  In a statement on Wednesday, the club said it had expressed strong reservations regarding an increase in betting duty rates, even though it understands the rationale behind the government's move.  In the budget blueprint, Chan also announced plans for a “Happy Hong Kong” campaign, which will include food fairs and gourmet markets.  Mak said the details are still being hammered out, and officials are recruiting suppliers locally, as well as from the mainland and overseas.  The minister said young people will also be involved, so they can get experience in managing food stalls.  She said the food fairs will be held in different districts over different weekends, but won’t be a regular event.  Mak was asked how the authorities will gauge whether the campaign is a success.  “Through this campaign, we hope to provide the chance for Hong Kong people to get together, to try gourmet [food], and try to feel happy and enjoyment in society. So we are not going to set a specific key performance index,” she said.  “Happiness is something that you can’t measure. Happiness is something that you can feel, so we encourage our general public to participate in the campaign.”