XN000022-1973-08-01 — Page 27

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Wednesday, August 1, 1973

RETAIL RICE PRICES "REASONABLE"

The retail prices of rice are "reasonable in the light of current

import and normal trade costs", the Director of Commerce and Industry, the

Hon. E.P. Ho said in Legislative Council today.

He said that on a Hong Kong-wide basis prices ranged from $1.10 to

$1.80 a catty, depending on the quality of rice offered.

Mr. Ho, who was replying to a question about rice prices from the

Hon. Hilton Cheong-leen, said that his department was continuing to make

randon checks every day on retail rice shops in all the main population

centres.

This was to ensure that price tags were displayed on the rice being

offered for sale and that prices were reasonable in terms of the quality

of the product.

"Only two complaints, both by telephone, were received by the

Commerce and Industry Department during June and July regarding retail rice

prices," Mr. Ho said.

In both cases, the callers alleged that specified retailers, one

on each side of the harbour, were demanding over $2 a catty for rice.

Investigations by inspectors subsequently found that the retailers were

not displaying price tags, but the retailers denied that they demanded the

prices alleged.

Mr. Ho said they were asked to display price tags which they did

promptly. Unannounced visits have been made since and each time tags in the

$1.10 and $1.80 range have been displayed.

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