XN000022-1977-06-15 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1977

CONSUMER COUNCIL BILL RECEIVES SUPPORT

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TWO UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TODAY SUPPORTED THE CONSUMER COUNCIL BILL 1977 DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE BILL SEEKS TO INCORPORATE THE CONSUMER COUNCIL AND TO GIVE IT A PERMANENT LEGAL STATUS. AS SUCH, THE CONSUMER COUNCIL CAN BE SUED AS A LEGAL ENTITY, WHILE ITS MEMBERS AND STAFF OR ITS COMMITTEES WILL BE PROTECTED FROM PERSONAL LIABILITY FOR ALL ACTS LEGITIMATELY DONE ON BEHALF OF THE CONSUMER WATCHDOG BODY.

DR. THE HON, HENRY HU, CONVENER OF AN AD HOC GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS STUDYING THE BILL, SUGGESTED THAT THE WORD +CONSIDER ING+ IN THE BILL SHOULD BE CHANGED TO +EXAMINING+ SO THAT IT WILL ENABLE THE CONSUMER COUNCIL TO PERFORM ITS FUNCTIONS AS AT PRESENT.

+MOREOVER, EXAMINING WOULD BE A MORE APPROPRIATE WORD THAN INVESTIGATING WHICH HAS EMOTIVE CONNOTATIONS, AS THE COUNCIL'S FUNCTION IS TO EXAMINE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND NOT TO LOOK INTO THE BUSINESS OF THE COMPANIES OF PARTIES CONCERNED,+ HE SAID.

IN CARRYING OUT ITS TASKS, THE COUNCIL ON THE ONE HAND HAD TO STRIKE A SENSIBLE BALANCE BETWEEN CONSUMER PROTECTION AND ENCROACHMENT OF BUSINESS INTERESTS, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, MUST NOT BE UNDULY FETTERED BY RIGID TERMS OF REFERENCE, HE ADDED.

THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN ALSO SUPPORTED THE BILL AND THE VIEWS OF DR. HU. BUT, HE ADDED THAT TO CONFER ON THE COUNCIL AT THIS STAGE PATENTLY STRONG POWERS TO INVESTIGATE AND TO OBTAIN ANY INFORMATION IN THE COURSE OF INVESTIGATION WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO DAMAGING OR UNDULY DISTURBING THE SPIRIT OF FREE ENTERPRISE IN HONG KONG, BOTH IN PRINCIPLE AND IN PRACTICE.+

THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR. DAVID JORDAN, WELCOMED THE SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL BY DR. HU AND MR. CHEONG-LEEN AND ADDED THAT THE AMENDMENT SUGGESTED WOULD BE MOVED DURING THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE BILL ON JUNE 29.

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