Explainer | After Hong Kong police arrest man, 90, for gambling, we look at how the law treats elderly
A 90-year-old mahjong player was among nine people detained in a recent police raid on an alleged gambling den in Hong Kong.
The Tsuen Wan operation highlighted the continued presence of illegal gambling in the city, particularly in older districts.
It also underscored the involvement of the elderly in illegal mahjong venues, which offers a glimpse into the enduring popularity of the game.
1. What happened when the venue was raided?
Police officers from Tsuen Wan on Sunday raided a flat on Ham Tin Street and broke up a suspected illegal mahjong gambling den.
A 67-year-old local woman, alleged to be the head of the operation, was arrested for operating a gambling establishment.
Five men and three women, aged between 60 and 90, were arrested.
They are still in custody as inquiries continue.
Police seized two electric mahjong tables, four sets of mahjong tiles, furniture, and about HK$1,200 (US$154) in cash.
2. Are elderly people often involved in illegal gambling?
Incidents involving elderly individuals being arrested in crackdowns on illegal gambling dens are not uncommon.
Four men aged between 67 and 89 were detained in April for gambling on the street in Tsuen Wan. They were found with a deck of playing cards and cash.
A man alleged to the operator of a gambling den and twelve punters, including an 84-year-old, were in July arrested in a tenement block in San Po Kong.
A 99-year-old woman was among dozens of people arrested in a raid in Kwai Tsing district in 2021, media reported at the time.
3. Do older prisoners get different treatment?
Prisoners considered to be a low security risk and aged over 65 are typically accommodated at the “Evergreen Garden” in Tai Lam Correctional Institution, a minimum-security prison equipped with amenities tailored for the elderly.
These include rehabilitation counselling, exercise facilities and vocational training courses.
The Correctional Services Department said it offered a range of rehabilitation programmes to cater to the needs of elderly prisoners.
Programmes include healthcare services, recreational activities and specialised facilities designed to promote the well-being of elderly inmates.
Prisoners who feel ill can tell the on-duty prison staff. Medical consultations are arranged at the institutions’ on-site hospitals.
Every prison has a hospital or sick bay where round-the-clock basic medical services are provided by medical officers from the Department of Health and prison officers with nursing qualifications.
In cases where the inmates need further medical assessment or treatment, they will be transferred to public hospitals.
4. How are mahjong parlours regulated?
The operation of mahjong parlours is governed by the Gambling Ordinance.
Anyone found operating or assisting in running an illegal gambling establishment can face severe penalties, including fines up to HK$5 million and imprisonment for up to seven years.
Using such establishments is also illegal and first-time offenders are liable for fines of HK$10,000 and up to three months in jail.
But, despite the penalties, there are still illegal mahjong parlours scattered throughout the city.
Individuals are required to obtain a mahjong/tin kau licence from the Home Affairs Department to operate a mahjong parlour legally.
Conditions for obtaining and maintaining a licence include a string of conditions.
Operating hours are restricted to between noon and midnight, entry to anyone aged under 18 is forbidden and operators cannot give loans or extend credit to customers.
Commission rates are limited to a specified maximum, and the licence holders must personally manage the premises.
5. How many a year are arrested for illegal gambling?
Police detained 1,760 people in the first five months of the year for “less serious” gambling activities, such as gambling in illicit establishments or on the streets.
The figure was 5,435 for the whole of last year and 5,953 in 2022.
Police said they have been monitoring the levels of illegal gambling, including serious gambling offences like the operation or management of illicit gambling establishments and bookmaking.
They added they were committed to appropriate intelligence-led enforcement actions to deter offenders.
