Fact 14
Myth 15
Fact 15
9.
The transfer of sovereignty is entirely irrelevant to this proposal, which is to abolish a restriction on competition that is contrary to Hong Kong's free market economy.
There is a need for the proposal to be studied further by an independent commission.
The proposal has been studied at length for nearly two years. It was the subject of a public consultation paper, and an independent public opinion survey, and is now being closely scrutinised by a Bills Committee of the Legislative Council. There are no new arguments or considerations that need to be studied further.
The English experience
Myth 16
-
Fact 16
Myth 17
Fact 17
Myth 18
Fact 18
Myth 19
The abolition of scale fees in England has been a disaster.
The English Consumers' Association has stated that the abolition of scale fees was far from disastrous and that the re-introduction of scale fees would not be in the public interest.
The Office of Fair Trading also does not believe that the abolition of scale fees has been harmful to consumers.
The abolition of scale fees in England caused a vicious price war.
Scale fees were abolished at the end of 1972 and a Royal Commission study, published in 1979, revealed no such development.
Cut-price conveyancing has led to shoddy work and a great increase in claims for compensation.
Price competition has enabled some lawyers to offer lower prices than others. However, no link between low-price conveyancing and negligent work has been established.
Conveyancing fees are so low that many solicitors have been forced into bankruptcy.
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