XN000022-1984-03-17 — Page 2

NOTE TO EDITORS:

SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1984

GOVERNOR RETURNING TOMORROW

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL RETURN TO HONG KONG TUMORROW (SUNDAY)`' AFTER ATTENDING ANOTHER TWO DAYS OF SINO- BRITISH TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

SIR EDWARD WILL BE TRAVELLING ON FLIGHT CA 101, ETA 11.45 AM.

A FACILITY HAS BEEN LAID ON FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN TO COVER SIR EDWARD'S RETURN. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO MAKE USE OF THE FACILITY ARE REQUESTED TO ASSEMBLE IN THE AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM NOT LATER THAN 10,45 AM.

GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.

PERSUASION MORE POWERFUL THAN COMPULSION

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BRAY

THE POWER OF PERSUASION IS GREATER THAN THAT OF COMPULSION IN CONSUMER PROTECTION AND EDUCATION, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

SPEAKING ON THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN CONSUMER PROTECTION AT A SEMINAR ON CONSUMER RIGHTS, MR BRAY SAID THAT HONG KONG WAS A FREE ECONOMY MARKET WITH MINIMUM GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION,

+WITHIN THIS ENVIRONMENT OF A FREE ECONOMY, GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO ASSIST THE OF A SUBVENTION,+ HE SAID.

SOCIETY AND A FREE CONSUMER COUNCIL BY WAY

THE PROPOSED SUBVENTION FOR 1984-85, AT $10.1 MILLION, IS A FOURFOLD INCREASE OVER THE $2 MILLION ALLOTTED TO THE COUNCIL WHEN IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1974.

+THIS INCREASE DEMONSTRATES A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY OF THE COUNCIL IN SERVING THE PUBLIC AND IN THE ABILITY OF THE COUNCIL, ACTIVELY SUPPORTED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC, TO FUND SOME OF ITS ACTIVITIES IN RESPONSE TO POPULAR DEMAND, SUCH AS THE ISSUE OF CHOICE, HE SAID.

MR BRAY RECALLED THAT THE COUNCIL WAS SET UP IN RESPONSE TO THREE NEEDS IDENTIFIED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

(1)

THE NEED FOR THE BUILDING UP AND THE MAINTENANCE OF A STOREHOUSE OF INFORMATION ON PRICES OF A SELECTED RANGE OF COMMODITIES

(2) THE NEED FOR AN ORGANISATION WHICH COULD ACT AS

A CLEARING HOUSE FOR COMPLAINTS AND DRAWING ATTENTION TO WHAT WERE CLEAR CASES OF PROFITEERING: AND

/(3) THE NEED