NON-STATUTORY MEASURES
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15,
1993
Ch
9
APART FROM INTRODUCING LEGISLATION WHERE APPROPRIATE, THE GOVERNMENT ALSO RELIES ON A RANGE OF ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN CONSUMER PROTECTION, WE HAVE JUST HEARD MR DICK CHI-YUEN THE IMPORTANCE HE ATTACHES TO THE PROMOTION OF COMPETITION AS A MEANS OF ENHANCING CONSUMER WELFARE. PROMOTION OF COMPETITION HAS, OF COURSE, ALWAYS BEEN A MAJOR OBJECTIVE IN THE FORMULATION OF THE GOVERNMENT POLICIES. RECOGNISING THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION, WE WILL SHORTLY ISSUE A DIRECTIVE TO REQUIRE ALL BRANCH SECRETARIES TO ASSESS THE IMPACT ON COMPETITION AT AN EARLY STAGE OF POLICY FORMULATION, AND TO INCLUDE SUCH AN ASSESSMENT IN THEIR SUBMISSIONS TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. SEVERAL MEMBERS HAVE REFERRED TO THE PRESENT STATE OF COMPETITION IN CERTAIN BUSINESS SECTORS SUCH AS SUPERMARKETS AND BANKING. AS MEMBERS ARE AWARE, THE CONSUMER COUNCIL IS CONDUCTING STUDIES INTO THE STATE OF COMPETITION IN FIVE MAJOR BUSINESS SECTORS WHICH AFFECT THE DAILY LIFE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WE HAVE EARMARKED AN ADDITIONAL $3.5 MILLION FOR THE COUNCIL TO COMPLETE THESE STUDIES. ON THE BASIS OF THE FINDINGS OF THESE STUDIES, WE WILL, WHERE APPROPRIATE, REVISE OUR POLICIES AND FORMULATE NEW ONES IN ORDER TO PROMOTE COMPETITION. WE SHALL PUBLISH A DETAILED RESPONSE TO EACH STUDY WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF ITS RELEASE. THE CONSUMER COUNCIL AIMS TO COMPLETE THE STUDIES BY SEPTEMBER 1994.
HAVE
SEPARATELY, WE RECOGNISE THAT THE GOVERNMENT, AS THE LARGEST SUPPLIER OF SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC, HAS A SPECIAL OBLIGATION TO REGARD ΤΟ THE CHANGING NEEDS OF ITS CLIENTS. FOR THIS REASON, THE GOVERNMENT LAST YEAR INTRODUCED A PERFORMANCE PLEDGE PROGRAMME то IMPROVE ITS SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC; AND TO DEVELOP A CLIENT-BASED CULTURE IN THE CIVIL SERVICE. GOOD PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE AND WE WILL KEEP UNDER REVIEW OUR PROGRAMMES TO ENHANCE THE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
OTHER NOTABLE INITIATIVES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR INCLUDE THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY'S IMPLEMENTATION OF A PATIENTS' CHARTER.
WE ALSO ENCOURAGE BIG BUSINESSES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO INTRODUCE MEASURES TO PROTECT CONSUMER INTERESTS THROUGH INCORPORATING APPROPRIATE CONDITIONS TO THIS EFFECT IN THE RELEVANT REGULATORY REGIME. FOR INSTANCE, TELEVISION AND SOUND BROADCASTING LICENSEES ARE SUBJECT TO CONTROL AND MONITORING BY THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY. THE AUTHORITY HAS ADOPTED THE PRACTICE WHEREBY PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE HELD BEFORE BROADCASTING LICENCES ARE RENEWED. AS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS, WE HAVE ALSO INCORPORATED A NEW CONDITION IN SOME FRANCHISES REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PASSENGER LIAISON GROUPS TO PROVIDE A CHANNEL FOR PASSENGERS TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS AND MAKE COMPLAINTS. THIS REQUIREMENT WILL BE INCLUDED IN OTHER FRANCHISES WHEN THEY ARE NEXT RENEWED.
/WE BELIEVE
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