XN000022-1983-12-21 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1983

COMPLAINTS ON MONEY-CHANGERS RAISE CONCERN

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THERE MIGHT BE A CASE FOR LEGISLATIVE INTERVENTION TO GIVE CUSTOMERS OF MONEY CHANGERS A FAIR CHANCE OF DECIDING IN ADVANCE WHETHER THEY WISH TO DO BUSINESS ON THE TERMS OFFERED, SAID

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR THOMAS WAS ANSWERING A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHEUNG YAN- LUNG WHO ASKED IF THERE ARE ANY PLANS TO REGULATE MONEY CHANGERS IN VIEW OF DISPUTES WITH CUSTOMERS WHICH HAVE ARISEN ABOUT THE LEVEL OF THE IR CHARGES.

MR THOMAS SAID THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS FROM TOURISTS THAT SOME MONEY CHANGERS DO NOT SUFFICIENTLY ADVERTISE THE +VERY SUBSTANTIAL COMMISSIONS THAT THEY CHARGE.

+BY THE TIME CUSTOMERS DISCOVER JUST HOW MUCH THEY ARE, THE CURRENCY HAS BEEN EXCHANGED. SHARP PRACTICES OF THIS KIND, ARE NOT, OF COURSE, CONFINED TO HONG KONG, HE SAID.

ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO PLANS AT PRESENT TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION, IT IS CONCERNED AT THE COMPLAINTS WHICH HAVE BEEN MADE. THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION IS WARNING TOURISTS, SAID MR THOMAS.

+ALTHOUGH MONEY-CHANGERS ARE CARRYING ON A LAWFUL BUSINESS, AND IT IS A FACT THAT SINCE 1978 THEY HAVE NOT BEEN SUBJECT TO ANY CONTROLS. THERE MIGHT BE A CASE FOR LEGISLATIVE INTERVENTION TO GIVE CUSTOMERS A FAIR CHANCE OF DECIDING IN ADVANCE WHETHER THEY WISH TO DO BUSINESS ON THE TERMS OFFERED, HE SAID.

OYSTER FARMERS IGNORE RESEARCH FINDINGS

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THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES OFFERS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO OYSTER FARMERS IN DEEP BAY TO IMPROVE FARMING TECHNIQUES AND TO IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVE SITES SUITABLE FOR OYSTER FARMING.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG CONCERNING ASSISTANCE OFFERED TO OYSTER FARMERS IN DEEP BAY TO MINIMISE THE IMPACT OF POLLUTION ARISING FROM RAPID URBANISATION OF YUEN LONG.

/MR JACOBS

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