42
APPENDICES TO THE MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE
APPENDIX 15
BRIEFING FOR SERVICEMEN AND THEIR WIVES ON LOCAL CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG (D.33)
Memorandum by the Ministry of Defence (SCOE 67/7)
1. All servicemen posted to Hong Kong are given briefing material on local conditions before they leave the United Kingdom. All families receive brochures designed to help them to understand Hong Kong and to assist them in preparing to live there: they are sent to them as far in advance as possible. Further more detailed briefing material is given to them on arrival in Hong Kong to help them to settle down.
2. Families of men on block posting are in addition briefed by officers of their units who provide advice and help to those who need it not only before departure but also after arrival.
3. Families of men on trickle posting are given additional help and advice by officers of their units when the families reach Hong Kong.
4. Single soldiers and airmen on trickle posting receive briefing material from the unit they are to join before leaving the United Kingdom. Single sailors receive the same briefing material provided for families.
5. All travel under Service arrangements and there is ample opportunity to obtain further advice and help if it is needed. A small number do fail to absorb all the advice given or to take advantage of the help which is available: the officers of their units do all within their power to help those who appear to be less capable of looking after themselves. The large majority do however arrive in Hong Kong adequately prepared.
January 1976.
APPENDIX 16
NAAFI PRICES AND SERVICE STANDARDS IN HONG KONG AND CYPRUS (D.34)
Memorandum by the Ministry of Defence (SCOE 67/8)
1. All retail organisations receive complaints from customers about prices and the standards of service. NAAFI is no exception and there is long established machinery to examine complaints, including local customer relations committees. Prompt action to remedy matters is taken when necessary.
2. Prices. NAAFI follow a policy, which has the approval of the Ministry of Defence, and which is designed to be fair to the Services while permitting NAAFI to operate without an overall loss. This policy is to sell at the average price prevailing for equivalent goods in reputable local shops, giving the customer the advantage in respect of goods on which local duty is abated. In Hong Kong, continuous test purchasing and price testing is carried out and the average price is established from a survey of equivalent items at six local stores. Although it will usually be possible to find some items somewhere locally at lower prices than in NAAFI, in general terms, NAAFI goods will be as cheap or cheaper overall, particularly when the 5 per cent discount is taken into consideration. Goods which are imported from the United Kingdom are of course liable to be more expensive than at home because of freight and other charges. But their prices should compare favourably with local prices for the same article.
3. Allegation of empty shelves. Shelves are replenished throughout the opening hours of each shop. Occasional gaps appear, particularly if there has been unex- pectedly heavy demands for particular items. This is however common to all large retail organisations. NAAFI have no knowledge of sweeping complaints of empty shelves. Their sales in Hong Kong have improved significantly in recent years, a fact which suggests that they are giving general satisfaction to customers.