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MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1980
FOR THE FIRST CATEGORY, HE SAID THE ESSENCE OF SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES WAS THAT THE PROVIDERS OF THE GOODS AND SERVICES WERE IN A STRONG POSITION TO CONCEAL SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION FROM CONSUMERS AND THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS WAY FOR MOST CONSUMERS TO FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SO. HE CITED AS EXAMPLES, THE STATE OF LIQUIDITY OF A BANK IN WHICH THE CONSUMER IS DEPOSITING HIS MONEY= THE FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF AN INSURANCE COMPANY WITH WHICH HE IS TAKING OUT LIFE INSURANCE THE CONTENT OF A GOLD RING- THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THOSE PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES- AND THE WEIGHTS HAWKERS USE IN THE MARKETS.
+ IN ALL THESE, AND IN MANY OTHER SUCH AREAS. THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN TO ENACT SPECIFIC LAWS DESIGNED TO PROTECT CONSUMERS,+ HE SAID.
ON THE SECOND CATEGORY, MR. JEAFFRESON SAID IT CONSISTED MAINLY OF MONOPOLIES AND CARTELS, CITING AS EXAMPLES THE TWO ELECTRICITY COMPANIES, THE BUS COMPANIES, AND THE TELEPHONE COMPANY.
+THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN MONOPOLIES AS PROVIDERS OF THEIR PARTICULAR PUBLIC UTILITIES IN SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREAS BECAUSE FOR ONE GOOD REASON OR ANOTHER IT HAS BEEN FOUND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO DO SO.
+OUR OBJECT, AND ON THE WHOLE IT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED, IS TO GRANT THEM THE IR MONOPOL IES BY FORCE OF LAW AND TO USE THE SAME PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF CONSUMERS IN THE MONOPOLY SITUATIONS THUS CREATED, HE SAID.
CONFIDENCE IN COURT CONTRIBUTES TO HK'S STABILITY
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THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE STABILITY OF HONG KONG IF THE PUBLIC CAN BE INSTILLED WITH CONFIDENCE IN THE COURTS AND RESPECT FOR THE IR METHODS AND DECISIONS, THE CHIEF JUSTICE, SIR DENYS ROBERTS SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY MARKING THE OPENING OF THE LEGAL YEAR IN THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL.
SIR DENYS SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT EVERY CITIZEN SHOULD HAVE A REASONABLE UNDERSTANDING OF OUR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE, AND ONE OF THE AIMS OF TODAY'S CEREMONY, PREVIOUSLY CALLED THE OPENING OF THE ASSIZES AND LAST HELD IN 1973, WAS TO FOCUS THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION, HOWEVER TEMPORARILY, ON THE COURTS AND THE LEGAL PROFESSION.
+ IT IS NOT EASY FOR THE AVERAGE MAN TO DISTINGUISH CLEARLY BETWEEN A COURT AND THE EXECUTIVE IN A PART OF THE WORLD WHERE THE DISTINCTION IS NOT WIDELY ESTABLISHED.
+MISGUIDED THOUGH THIS MAY BE, IT IS THEREFORE PROBABLE THAT MANY PEOPLE WILL JUDGE THE QUALITY OF THE IR GOVERNMENT BY WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM DURING THE JUDICIAL PROCESS. SO THE COURTS BECOME IMPORTANT IN PRESERVING RESPECT FOR OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF AUTHORITY AS WELL AS FOR THEMSELVES. THE MAINTENANCE OF THIS RESPECT IS A POTENT FACTOR IN THE STABILITY OF SOCIETY, + SIR DENYS EXPLAINED.
/A SE