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WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1989
THE 10-YEAR-OLD SHOP PROPRIETOR PLEADED GUILTY TO THE CHARGES UNDER THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE, WHICH CAME INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1 THIS YEAR.
HEAD OF THE BUREAU. MR LI HUNG-YUE, SAID: "I HOPE THE CASE TODAY WOULD SERVE AS FAIR WARNING TO OTHERS SCHEMING TO SHORTCHANGE THEIR CUSTOMERS BY DOCTORING THEIR WEIGHT MEASURING INSTRUMENTS.
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"IT IS OUR INTENTION ΤΟ IMPLEMENT THIS ORDINANCE WITH AN INITIAL SIX-MONTH PUBLIC EDUCATION APPROACH
EXCEPT FOR THE XST FLAGRANT VIOLATORS AND TO BE FOLLOWED LATER BY STRICT ENFORCEMENT ACTION. THIS EXPLAINS WHY WE HAVE 30 FAR TAKEN ONLY ONE CASE T COURT, MK LI SAID.
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THE ORDINANCE CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF $20,000 PLUS SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT.
THE
OF
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REVIEWING THE INITIAL SIX-MONTH IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD OF ORDINANCE. MR LI SAID A TOTAL. OF 17 COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED. THESE, 33 HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED. OF THE INVESTIGATED CASES, COMPLAINTS COULD NOT BE SUBSTANTIATED. 12 OTHERS WERF SUBSTANTIATED AND RESULTED IN THE ISSUE OF WARNINGS. WHILE ONE CASE WAS SUBSTANTIATED AND SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED.
HE ADDED THAT RETAILERS OF FOOD ITEMS ACCOUNTED FOR SOME 77 PER CENT OF THE SUBSTANTIATED COMPLAINTS AND THE ERRORS OF THE WEIGHING EQUIPMENT USED BY THESE TRADERS DEVIATED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE TRADERS FAVOUR FROM THE NORMALLY ACCEPTED TOLERANCE OF 0.6 PER CENT AT INSPECTION LEVEL.
NOTING THAT 10 PER CENT OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE SUBSTANTIATED. MR LI STRESSED THAT THE BUREAU WOULD FROM NOW ON TAKE STERN ACTION AGAINST OFFENDERS TO PROTECT THE INTEREST OF CONSUMERS.
"AT THE MOMENT. MUST OF OUR INVESTIGATIONS ARF INITIATED IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS. BUT WE ALSO MAKE SPOT CHECKS AT ALL TYPES OF BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS. INCLUDING PETROL FILLING
RESTAURANTS AND FOOD RETAILERS, MR LI SAID.
STATIONS,
ANY PERSON WISHING TO MAKE ANY COMPLAINT ABOUT MALPRACTICE IN RESPECT OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES MAY CONTACT EITHER THE TRADING STANDARDS INVESTIGATION BUREAU OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO. 5-441711) OR THE CONSUMER POUNCIL.
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