AS a parent I wish to protest against the recent explosion of video game shops in Hong Kong. I am not referring to the coin-operated game rooms which I understand are highly controlled by various rules and regulations. I am concerned with the hundreds of small shops scattered throughout the major shopping centres which purport to be retailing home video cartridges and hand held games, but which are in fact a front for the uncontrolled operation of video games. A young child can walk into many of the shops and for $2-$5, buy 15 minutes on a machine and play any game they wish including those intended for adults. If the Government believes that video games should be controlled (and I agree with that) then it should regulate all of them, not just the licensed ones. The cost of establishing one of these shops is very low and if the authorities continue to turn a blind eye to these operators, Hong Kong will soon have more illegal machines than legal ones. NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED
