XN000022-1979-02-14 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1979

PROTECTION FOR FLAT PURCHASERS

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN HOLDING WIDESPREAD DISCUSSIONS WITH PROFESSIONAL AND COMMERCIAL BODIES ON IMPROVED PROTECTION FOR FLAT PURCHASERS AS RECOMMENDED IN THE CONSUMER COUNCIL REPORT, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, MR. DEREK JONES TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG WHO ASKED IF GOVERNMENT WOULD COMMENT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

MR. JONES SAID THESE CONSULTATIONS WERE TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT PARTICULAR CHANGES IN PROFESSIONAL AND COMMERCIAL PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES WOULD PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE PROTECTION THAN NEW LEGISLATION AND, IF LEGISLATION WAS NEEDED, WHAT FORM IT SHOULD TAKE.

HE NOTED THAT THESE CONSULTATIONS HAD BEEN SOMEWHAT PROTRACTED, BUT THEY ARE HOPED TO BE COMPLETED SOON.

A DECISION WOULD THEN NEED TO BE MADE ON WHETHER OR NOT LEGISLATION WOULD IN FACT BE REQUIRED, HE SAID.

+ IN MAKING THIS DECISION, HE ADDED, +GOVERNMENT WILL BEAR FULLY IN MIND THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING THAT ADEQUATE WAYS AND MEANS ARE PROVIDED TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF PURCHASERS OF UNCOMPLETED FLATS.+

CONSULTATIONS WITH SWEDEN TO BE CONTINUED NEXT MONTH

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MR. LAWRENCE MILLS, DIRECTOR OF TRADE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THAT A FIRST ROUND OF CONSULTATIONS HAD BEEN CONCLUDED ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG'S EXPORTS OF TEXTILES TO SWEDEN AFTER MARCH 31, 1979, WHEN THE CURRENT RESTRAINT ARRANGEMENTS EXPIRE.

+THE SWEDISH DELEGATION PUT FORWARD CERTAIN PROPOSALS FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE RESTRAINT ARRANGEMENTS AND WE EXAMINED THESE

IN SOME DETAIL,+ MR. MILLS SAID.

OTHER TECHNICAL MATTERS CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF THE PRESENT AGREEMENT WERE ALSO DISCUSSED.

THE HONG KONG AND SWEDISH DELEGATIONS WILL RESUME CONSULTATIONS IN COPENHAGEN IN THE WEEK BEGINNING MARCH 5, 1979.

THE CONSULTATIONS WERE HELD IN HONG KONG FROM FEBRUARY 12 TO TODAY. THE SWEDISH DELEGATION WAS LED BY AMBASSADOR B. DENNIS FROM THE SWEDISH MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS. THE HONG KONG DELEGATION WAS LED BY MR. MILLS.

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