-
10
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1985
OUTLINING THE WORK THE CONSUMER COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN DOING OVER THE PAST YEAR, MR JACOBS REMARKED THAT 1985 HAD BEEN A GOOD YEAR FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION IN HONG KONG.
+1N APRIL, THE MONEY CHANGERS (DISCLOSURE OF RATES, CHARGES AND COMMISSIONS) ORDINANCE CAME INTO EFFECT. I AM PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A DECREASE IN COMPLAINTS ABOUT MONEY CHANGERS REPORTED BY THE CONSUMER COUNCIL SINCE THE LAW WAS PASSED.
+TOURISTS, IN PARTICULAR, SHOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS MEASURE. THERE ARE STILL SOME PROBLEM AREAS, BUT BY AND LARGE I BELIEVE THAT OUR APPROACH HAS BEEN GENERALLY SUCCESSFUL.+
ANOTHER LEGISLATION
THE TRAVEL AGENTS ORDINANCE -- WAS PASSET BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN AUGUST. THIS ORDINANCE PROVIDED FOR THE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF TRAVEL AGENTS AND ALSO ESTABLISHED A RESERVE FUND TO PROVIDE EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS TO CLIENTS OF LICENSED TRAVEL AGENTS WHO HAD OBTAINED A COURT JUDGMENT OR LODGED A PROOF OF DEBT IN RESPECT OF A LICENSEE FOR ANY LOSS INCURRED AS A RESULT OF PAYMENT MADE FOR TRAVEL SERVICES.
+WE HOPE TO BRING THE ORDINANCE INTO EFFECT EARLY NEXT YEAR,+ MR JACOBS SAID.
PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE CONSUMER COUNCIL FOR LEADING HONG KONG'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CONSUMER PROTECTION, MR JACOBS REITERATED THAT THE BEST CONSUMER PROTECTION WAS THAT PROVIDED BY CONSUMERS THEMSELVES AND THE EDUCATION OF CONSUMERS WAS THEREFORE OF VITAL IMPORTANCE.
+ IN THE 11 YEARS SINCE ITS FOUNDATION, THE CONSUMER COUNCIL HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARDS INCREASING CONSUMERS' AWARENESS OF THEIR RIGHTS. THE PUBLICITY GIVEN TO THE FINDINGS OF THE COUNCIL BOTH THROUGH REGULAR PRESS CONFERENCES AND THROUGH THE PUBLICATION OF THE MAGAZINE CHOICE IS A VITAL PART OF THIS PROCESS, + HE SAID.
1.4 MILLION ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN MARCH POLLS
*****
ABOUT 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE URBAN COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON MARCH 6 NEXT YEAR.
MORE THAN 67 000 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED DURING THE RECENT ANNUAL REGISTRATION VOTER EXERCISE. BUT ONLY 38 330 ELECTORS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE PROVISIONAL ELECTORAL ROLL, AFTER NAMES WERE DELETED BECAUSE OF DOUBLE REGISTRATION OR INELIGIBILITY.
/THIS EXPRESENTED