MONDAY, AUGUST 12,
+UNSCRUPULOUS+ RETAILERS WARNED
*****
THE GOVERNMENT, ALREADY DRAWING UP BATTLE PLANS TO TACKLE UNSCRUPULOUS RETAILERS WHO THREATEN HONG KONG'S TOURIST AND SHOPP L... REPUTATION, TODAY ISSUED A STERN WARNING: BEWARE.
IF SHOPS PERSISTED IN RIPPING OFF THE SHOPPER+ THEY COULD ALSO BE ASSURED OF RETALIATORY ACTION.
SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES PIERS JACOBS SAID TODAY: +WE ARE DEFINITELY CONCERNED AT THE APPARENT MALPRACTICES OF SOME RETAILERS, PARTICULARLY IN THE MORE TOURIST-ORIENTED AREAS.
+THEY ARE DAMAGING HONG KONG'S STANDING AS A LEADING TOURIST CITY IN THE FAR EAST,·
THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE GROWING PROBLEM AND FOR SOME TIME HAS BEEN WORKING ON MEANS OF TACKLING IT. CLOSE CONTACT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WITH THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, THE HONG KONG TOUR I ST ASSOCIATION AND THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
+A STRATEGY IS BEING FORMED TO CRACK DOWN ON UNSCRUPULOUS
PRACTICES,+ SAID MR JACOBS.
THE PLAN CATERS FOR A THREE-PRONGED ATTACK:
* MORE EXPEDITIOUS HEARING OF TOURIST'S COMPLAINTS BY THE
SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL,
* PROSECUTION OF OFFENDERS UNDER THE THEFT ORDINANCE AND
TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE; AND
*
AMENDMENT OF THE CONSUMER COUNCIL ORDINANCE.
MR JACOBS IS NOW DISCUSSING WITH THE REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT THE QUESTION OF MAKING SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR HEARING CASES LODGED BY TOURISTS IN THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL.
+THE IDEA,+ HE SAID, IS TO ENABLE VISITORS TO PRESS THEIR CLAIMS WITHOUT HAVING TO DELAY THEIR DEPARTURE OR TO RETURN TO HONG KONG FOR A HEARING. WE WANT TO RID THEM OF THAT INCONVENIENCE, HOPEFULLY, IT WOULD ALSO HAVE A DETERRENT EFFECT ON SOME OF THE RETAILERS.
ON THE SECOND POINT, ACTING ON THE ADVICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS, THE POLICE AND THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN WORKING OUT DETAILED PLANS TO ENFORCE THE CRIMINAL STATUTES.
/ANY PERSON