8
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1981
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT HONG KONG HAD ITS SHARE OF COMMERCIAL VILLAINS AND SHARP BUSINESSMEN, MR DORWARD SUMMARISED THE LEGISLATION AND ACTION TAKEN TO PROTECT CONSUMERS AT HOME AND OVERSEAS.
BEFORE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COPYRIGHT PROTECTION UNIT IN THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE IN 1973, HONG KONG, LIKE MOST CITIES IN ASIA AND A LOT OF THE REST OF THE WORLD WAS FLOODED WITH PIRATED MUSIC CASSETTES.
IN FIVE YEARS THE UNIT WITH, AT ITS PEAK, JUST OVER 40 MEN, VIRTUALLY STAMPED OUT THE PRODUCTION AND SALE OF THESE CASSETTES IN HONG KONG, AND WAS NOW TRYING TO ACHIEVE THE SAME SUCCESS IN THE FIELD OF PIRATED VIDEO TAPES, SAID MR DORWARD.
+NO-ONE CAN PUT A FIGURE ON THE VALUE OF THE POSITIVE { PUBLICITY WHICH RESULTS FROM ALL THIS, BUT AT A TIME WHEN HONG KONG
IS A TARGET FOR PROTECTIONIST SNIPING, IT MUST BE SUBSTANTIAL.
+ IRONICALLY, THE PUBLICITY GENERATED BY OUR SUCCESS IN TRACK ING DOWN AND PROSECUTING THE COMPANIES RESPONSIBLE FOR MUSIC PIRACY, TEXTILE TRANSHIPMENTS AND OTHER INFRINGEMENTS OF THE LAW GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF TRADE TENDS, UNFORTUNATELY, TO GIVE CREDENCE TO ALLEGATIONS THAT IT IS MORE PREVALENT THAN INDEED IT IS, HE SAID.
TURNING TO TEXTILE TRANSHIPMENT FRAUDS, COMMITTED MAINLY IN 1978 AND 1979, AND DETECTED DURING LAST YEAR, MR DORWARD SAID: + SAY WITH CONVICTION THAT WE ATTACKED THIS PROBLEM WITH ALL THE RESOURCES AND DEDICATION AT OUR DISPOSAL. WE TOOK COURT ACTION AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION AGAINST A TOTAL OF 95 COMPANIES, AND, ALTHOUGH ONE CAN NEVER BE COMPLETELY CERTAIN, I BELIEVE WE HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM VIRTUALLY ELIMINATED FOR ABOUT A YEAR.
+NEVERTHELESS, THE FACT THAT SUCH FRAUDS TOOK PLACE IS BEING USED, NOTABLY IN THE EEC, AS A JUSTIFICATION FOR A MORE RESTRICTIVE ATTITUDE IN CURRENT AND FORTHCOMING TEXTILE NEGOTIATIONS. TALK OF PUNITIVE AND AUTOMATIC PENALTIES ON COUNTRIES OF ORIGINAL EXPORT IS BEING HEARD, HE SAID.
+A CONSIDERABLE PART OF OUR CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE AND TRADE INVESTIGATION BRANCH, A TOTAL FORCE OF ABOUT 2 500, IS AT ANY GIVEN TIME DEPLOYED ON CONSIGNMENT CHECKS, FACTORY INSPECTIONS, CARGO EXAMINATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.
+THIS IS NOT ONLY TO CURB THE MOVEMENT OF PROHIBITED ARTICLES, SUCH AS NARCOTICS AND FIREARMS, BUT TO MEET INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS IN RESPECT OF SUCH THINGS AS ORIGIN CERTIFICATION, TEXTILE IMPORT AND EXPORT CONTROLS, HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS AND PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE PROTECTION OF THE HONG KONG CONSUMER, MR DORWARD SAID GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION WAS ESSENTIALLY LIMITED TO THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE CONSUMERS REALISTICALLY COULD NOT PROTECT THEMSELVES.
HE CITED AREAS; WHICH WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TICD, WHERE THE PROVIDERS OF GOODS AND SERVICES COULD PREVENT CONSUMERS MAK ING A FAIR JUDGEMENT, AND WHICH NOW CAME UNDER THE NEW TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE.
/+THIS DEALS