Tighter licensing restrictions may be demanded after a potentially dangerous arm-wrestling machine removed from game centres in 1993 found its way back into an arcade.
The machine, similar to those that broke five customers' arms four years ago, was found at the Jumpin Gym USA amusement arcade in Cityplaza, Taikoo Shing, on Monday.
The machine had been removed by the time the Provisional Urban Council's health panel vice-chairman, Wong Kwok-hing, went to inspect it yesterday.
A Jumpin Gym USA administrator said: 'The machine was taken off the premises because we believe it can be harmful to players. We are studying to see whether the machine is safe.' Mr Wong said there was no special licence for such machines. They were all included in a company's licence application. But the nature of the games and machines stated in an application were listed in general terms.
Mr Wong said procedures should be introduced to allow each machine on the list to be examined. Machines which had previously been verified safe should also be re-examined in case they had been modified.
'The procedure should also check to see if the amusements contain any gambling elements,' Mr Wong said.
