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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1988
AMBASSADOR BRIEFS LEGCO MEMBERS ON VIETNAM
THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO HANOI, MR EMRYS DAVIES, MET MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AD HOC GROUP ON VIETNAMESE REFUGEES THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON TO BRIEF THEM ON THE LATEST SITUATION ON VIETNAM.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THE BRIEFING, MR DAVIES SAID THE COUNTRY WAS CONFRONTED WITH QUITE SERIOUS ECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND A HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE PARTICULARLY IN NORTH VIETNAM.
HE SAID MANY PEOPLE FROM VIETNAM WERE SUFFERING FROM MALNUTRITION AND THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HAD APPEALED ΤΟ THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR HELP.
MR DAVIES SAID EFFORTS WERE BEING MADE то PERSUADE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT ΤΟ PUBLICISE HONG KONG'S NEW POLICY SCREENING VIETNAMESE ARRIVALS ON THEIR TELEVISION AND RADIO.
THE
FOR
ITS
ASKED WHEN THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT WAS LIKELY TO GIVE OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO HONG KONG'S SCREENING POLICY, MR DAVIES SAID THE VIETNAMESE FOREIGN MINISTER WAS STILL OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
WE
"WHEN HE GETS BACK, THERE'S A NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEETING, SO ARE TALKING ABOUT SEVERAL WEEKS, I THINK, BEFORE WE GET A SUBSTANTIVE RESPONSE, HE SAID.
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STREAMLINING PROCEDURES IN MONEY LENDING BUSINESS
AND
A BILL AIMED MAINLY AT STREAMLINING THE LICENSING ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES OF THE MONEY LENDERS ORDINANCE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE OPPORTUNITY IS ALSO BEING TAKEN TO MODIFY THE EXISTING LEGISLATION DIRECTED ESSENTIALLY AGAINST LOANSHARKING SO THAT GENUINE COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS ARE NOT INADVERTENTLY CAUGHT BY THE PROVISIONS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
EXPLAINING THE MAJOR CHANGES UNDER THE MONEY LENDERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1988, HE SAID IMPROVEMENTS WERE NOW REQUIRED TO OVERCOME A NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE EMERGED FROM THE OPERATION OF THE ORDINANCE SINCE ITS ENACTMENT IN 1980.
"APPLICATIONS FOR A MONEY LENDER'S LICENCE ARE CURRENTLY INVESTIGATED BY THE POLICE AND DETERMINED BY THE LICENSING COURT COMPRISING A MAGISTRATE SITTING WITH TWO ASSESSORS.
"AT PRESENT,