WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1994
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POSITIVE STEPS TO IMPROVE BANK SERVICES FOR THE BLIND
THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF RANKS HAS TAKEN POSITIVE STEPS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY TO BANKING SERVICES FOR THE SIGHT IMPAIRED IN RECENT YEARS, THE SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES, MR MICHAEL CARTLAND, SAID.
IT ISSUED A BEST PRACTICE GUIDE TO ITS MEMBERS IN 1992, RECOMMENDING PROCEDURES ABOUT THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO THE SIGHT IMPAIRED.
THIS WAS SUPPLEMENTED BY TWO FURTHER GUIDELINES ISSURD IN JANUARY AND DECEMBER LAST YEAR. THE LAST OF THESE WAS DRAWN UP IN CONSULTATION WITH THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND.
SUCH GUIDELINES ENCOURAGE BANKS TO MAKE AVAILABLE GENERAL BANKING FACILITIES ΤΟ THE SIGHT IMPAIRED ON THE SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS FOR THE ORDINARY CUSTOMER PROVIDED THAT THEY FULLY UNDERSTAND THEIR OBLIGATIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND LIABILITIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OF SUCH SERVICES.
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO THE HON ZACHARY WONG WAI-YIN'S QUESTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR CARTLAND SAID THE ASSOCIATION HAD KEPT IN TOUCH WITH THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND TO CONSIDER TF FURTHER INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE SUCH ACCESSIBILITY COULD BE INTRODUCED.
SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT SEE THE NEED FOR IT TO INTERFERE, HE
THE HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY HAD RECEIVED SOME COMPLAINTS AGAINST CERTAIN BANKS IN RELATION TO REFUSAL TO PROVIDE CURRENT ACCOUNT AND AUTOMATIC TELLER MACHINE SERVICES TO THE SIGHT IMPAIRED.
ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS FOR CERTAIN BANKS NOT PROVIDING THESE SERVICES IS FOR THE PROTECTION OF SIGHT-IMPAIRED CUSTOMERS WHO ARE EXPOSED TO POTENTIAL RISKS ARISING FROM MISCOMMUNICATION AND MISUNDERSTANDING.
"IT IS PRUDENT FOR BANKS TO ENSURE THAT POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS ARE FULLY AWARE OF SUCH RISKS AND THE POSSIBLE DAMAGE THAT CAN BE CAUSED BY MTSCOMMUNICATION OR MISUNDERSTANDING, HR SAID.
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