South Asian soldiers gambled around

Tired neighborhood can't escape

The South Asian Corps has no control over gambling. The pavilion of the Tsuen Wan Recreation Ground became the South Asia Casino. Nearly 20 people smoked during the peak period. Bottled water was provided on site. There was also an observatory, which was very large. There are 4 and 5 stalls in the park in Sham Shui Po, protected by flower troughs. Lazy children are betting around. Doctors and legislators severely criticized gamblers for their selfish behavior and demanded that relevant departments strengthen law enforcement.

"Turn on the stage, turn on the lights, and the second beer (card) comes out with the buried tank." At the pavilion of the Sanbei Square Playground in Tsuen Wan, you will hear similar conversations every day after entering the dark. Eastern Net reporters observed at the amusement park many days earlier. At 7 o'clock every night, several local men gathered for gambling. Later, more and more people gathered, including men and women, including South Asians and drug addicts. Nearly 20 people obviously violated the ban on gatherings. During this period, many people smoked, and they frothed while talking.

They use a sparrow board as a gambling table, supplemented by a spotlight, to bet on "thirteen cards." Participants take turns to be the banker in each round, and onlookers can also bet. At the end of each game in the gambling stall, gamblers frequently took out their wallets to make payments and put them on the gaming table or in a box. The ups and downs per person ranged from tens to hundreds of yuan. A local man is suspected to be the manipulator of the gambling stall. He put a styrofoam box nearby. The bottled frozen water in the box is for gamblers to enjoy. The hospitality is like a casino. There are also several South Asians outside the venue. , Outsiders are not allowed to enter the scope of the "casino" rashly. When a police officer patrolled by, someone blew their whistle and the gamblers dispersed. After the police officers left, they gathered again to start gambling. They did not leave until 11 o'clock in the evening.

The Nan Cheong Street Sitting-out Area in Sham Shui Po also has 4 or 5 tables for gambling "13 tickets" every afternoon. Gamblers include local and Vietnamese nationals. The stage is covered by plants. There were cash transactions at the scene, and 6 to 8 people participated in the gambling game and even onlookers took off their masks to "shaking", talking or smoking from time to time. However, the sitting-out area is located at the busy junction of Nam Cheong Street and Lai Chi Kok Road. On weekdays, many people pass by or take children to the park to play. Parents are angry and encourage gambling.

Tsuen Wan District Councillor Lin Xitian pointed out that the problem of gambling at the Sanbei Square Playground has always been unscrupulous and has not stopped. Even other parks and playgrounds nearby have similar situations. He has witnessed some gambling stalls blatantly offering Tianjiu and Mahjong. There were even people at the scene holding a pile of cash, suspected of performing counting activities. He did not rule out that the gambling stalls involved gang manipulation and organization. He also pointed out that in addition to gambling bans, gamblers will smoke, spit and urinate, which seriously affects public order and hygiene. He has repeatedly requested relevant departments to follow up, but has not received a positive response.

Councillor Ke Chuangsheng denounced the "unwanted" and selfish behaviors of the citizens, and persuaded the citizens to be self-disciplined and restrained. Recently, they have made a comeback and urged the departments to strengthen law enforcement and publicity.

A police spokesman said that as of the end of October this year, 17 and 20 operations were taken against Sanbei Square in Tsuen Wan and Nam Cheong Street Sitting-out Area in Sham Shui Po. 28 and 47 persons were arrested and prosecuted for illegal street gambling, which violated the prohibition of gatherings. There were 27 and 13 fixed-rate tickets issued by orders.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department replied that if staff find that people are gambling and smoking in the park, they will immediately advise them and contact the police as necessary to assist in law enforcement. They will also regularly conduct joint operations with the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health to combat smoking problems in the venues. Nanchang this September Prosecutions have also been carried out at the street sitting-out area. During the implementation of the ban on gatherings, the department will continue to monitor the wearing of masks and the number of people gathering at venues under its jurisdiction, and take appropriate actions.

[TW]

南亞兵四圍開賭　累街坊難逃

南亞兵團聚賭卻無王管。荃灣遊樂場涼亭淪南亞賭場，高峰期近20人傾偈吸煙，現場提供樽裝水，又有天文台，甚具規模；深水埗有公園內4、5檔聚賭，以花槽作掩護，賭客懶理小朋友在旁狂賭。醫生及議員狠批聚賭人士行為自私，要求相關部門加強執法。

「開枱、開燈，攞副啤（牌）同埋箱水出來。」在荃灣三陂坊遊樂場的涼亭，每日入黑後，就會聽到類似對話。東網記者早前多日在遊樂場觀察，每晚7時許，數名本地男子聚集賭錢，其後愈聚愈多人，有男有女，更包括南亞裔及癮君子，高峰時有近20人，明顯違反禁聚令，期間不少人吸煙，談話時又口沫橫飛。

他們以麻雀板作賭枱，輔以一支射燈，大賭「十三張」，參加者每局輪流做莊，圍觀者亦可夾賭。賭檔每局結數，賭客頻頻掏出銀包付款，放賭枱上或一個盒中，每人上落由幾十至數百元不等。一名本地男子疑為賭檔操控人，他在附近放上一個發泡膠箱，箱內的樽裝凍水供賭客享用，款客手法儼如賭場；場外亦有幾名南亞籍人士把風，外人不得貿然進入「賭場」範圍。當有警員巡經時，就有人吹起口哨，賭客四散，警員離開後，又再聚眾開賭，每晚至深夜11時仍未散去。

深水埗南昌街休憩處每日下午同樣有4、5張枱賭「十三張」，聚賭人士包括本地及越南籍，部分人坐在長椅，部分人坐在花槽，鋪紙皮作枱，以植物作掩護。現場有現金交易，參與賭局連圍觀者有6至8人，不時除下口罩「抖氣」、交談或吸煙。惟該休憩處位於南昌街及荔枝角道的繁忙交界，平日有不少市民行經，或帶小朋友到公園玩耍，有家長憤斥助長賭風。

荃灣區議員林錫添指三陂坊遊樂場聚賭問題一向肆無忌憚，未見收斂，連附近其他公園及遊樂場都有類似情況。他曾目擊部分賭檔明目張膽提供天九及麻雀，現場更有人手持一疊現金，疑進行放數活動，不排除賭檔涉及黑幫操控及組織。他又指聚賭除違反禁聚令，賭客更會吸煙、吐痰及小便等，嚴重影響治安及衞生環境，他曾多次要求相關部門跟進，卻未獲積極回應。

議員柯創盛直斥聚賭市民行為「要不得」及自私，勸喻市民自律及節制，近日又再捲土重來，促部門加強執法及宣傳。

警方發言人表示，今年截至10月底，就荃灣三陂坊及深水埗南昌街休憩處分別採取17及20次行動，涉及非法街頭賭博而拘捕和檢控人數分別有28及47人，而違反禁聚令而發出的定額告票則分別有27及13宗。

康文署回覆指，職員若發現市民在公園內賭博及吸煙，會即時作出勸止，並按需要聯絡警方協助執法；亦會定期與衞生署控煙酒辦聯合行動，打擊場地吸煙問題，今年9月南昌街休憩處亦曾進行檢控行動。禁聚令實施期間，該署會繼續留意轄下場地人士佩戴口罩及聚集人數，並作出適當行動。