XN000022-1978-12-20 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1978

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LEGISLATION TO PROTECT CONSUMERS

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TWO IMPORTANT ITEMS OF LEGISLATION IN RELATION TO CONSUMER PROTECTION WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT YEAR.

THEY ARE THE TRADE DESCRIPTION BILL WHICH SEEKS TO REPLACE THE MERCHANDISE MARKS ORDINANCE AND TO WIDEN THE SCOPE OF CONTROL OVER FRAUDULENT AND MISLEADING DESCRIPTIONS OF GOODS OFFERED FOR SALE, AND A BILL TO REPLACE THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE.

THIS WAS REVEALED BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON DURING THE COUNCIL'S ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

HE ALSO MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S OVERALL POLICY ON CONSUMER PROTECTION WAS THAT IT SHOULD INTERVENE TO PROTECT PEOPLE ONLY WHEN THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

MR. JEAFFRESON SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO CONSIDERING THE APPOINTMENT OF A CHIEF TRADING STANDARDS OFFICER WHOSE INITIAL DUTIES WOULD BE TO FINALISE THE BILL ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AND TO BEGIN THE WORK OF BUILDING UP A BODY OF STAFF TO ENFORCE IT.

REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THE DEBATE, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD SOUGHT THE SERVICE OF A CHIEF TRADING STANDARDS OFFICER FROM BRITAIN ON THE POSSIBILITY OF SETTING UP AN AGENCY TO ENFORCE THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE.

HE SAID THE OFFICER HAD PREPARED A REPORT AND RECOMMENDED THE SETTING UP OF SUCH AN ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, AND A STANDARDS AND CALIBRATION CENTRE WHICH WOULD BE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, FOR THE SAFE CUSTODY OF THE REFERENCE STANDARDS.

HE ALSO INSPECTED THE STANDARD WEIGHTS AND MEASURES IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES AND REPORTED THAT ALTHOUGH THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH THEY WERE STORED FELL BELOW THOSE NOWADAYS CONSIDERED NECESSARY, THEY WERE CAPABLE OF BEING RENOVATED FOR USE AS REFERENCÉ STANDARDS.

ON THE STANDARDS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR. JEAFFRESON SAID THEY WERE IN USE BY OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS OF SHORT MEASURES FROM THE PUBLIC.

+BUT I ACCEPT WE SHALL NOT BE PROPERLY EFFECTIVE UNTIL WE HAVE THE NEW ORDINANCE, THE CHIEF TRADING STANDARDS OFFICER AND STANDARDS APPROPRIATE TO THE VERIFYING OF THE MORE SENSITIVE

INSTRUMENTS,

+AS SOON AS WE GET OUR NEW CHIEF TRADING STANDARDS OFFICER AND THE NECESSARY POSTS, HE CAN START TRAINING HIS NEW STAFF. IF HIS INSPECTORS ARE READY BEFORE WE CAN GET THE NEW BILL THROUGH THIS COUNCIL, THEY CAN BE USED TO ENFORCE MORE POSITIVELY THE PRESENT ORDINANCE HOWEVER UNSATISFACTORY IT MAY BE, HE SAID.

/ON THE..