XN000022-1985-02-06 — Page 23

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1985

THE SCHOOLS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS TOOK SPECIAL MEASURES TO SECURE VALUABLE ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS LOCKING AWAY

TELEVISION SETS AND TAPE-RECORDERS AFTER SCHOOL AND DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

FOR COMPUTER ROOMS, SCHOOLS INSTALLED ANTI-BURGLAR BARS ON WINDOWS, REPLACED WOODEN DOORS WITH IRON ONES AND REINFORCED DOOR LOCKS.

FINALLY, MOST GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS HAD TWO QUARTERS FOR JUNIOR STAFF TO LIVE ON SITE. PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS STAFF WAS TO REPORT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

MR JEAFFRESON ALSO SAID THAT THE COMPUTER EQUIPMENT STOLEN RECENTLY FROM THE LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE WAS NOT INSURED.

CLEARER DEFINITION SOUGHT FOR HOTEL MONEY CHANGERS

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A CLEARER DEFINITION OF MONEY CHANGING SERVICES PROVIDED BY HOTELS WAS NEEDED IN THE MONEY CHANGER (DISCLOSURE OF RATES, CHARGES AND COMMISSIONS) BILL 1985, THE HON ALLEN LEE SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID HE FULLY SUPPORTED THE BILL TO PROVIDE CONSUMER PROTECTION TO PERSONS WHO WENT TO MONEY CHANGERS TO EXCHANGE CURRENCIES, BUT FELT THAT CERTAIN REFINEMENTS WERE NEEDED.

REFERRING TO CLAUSE (2) WHICH EXEMPTS THE MONEY CHANGING SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE HOTELS FROM THE AMBIT OF THE BILL, HE SAID:

+WHILE APPRECIATING THE GOOD REASONS BEHIND THIS MOVE, IT WAS FELT THAT A CLEARER DEFINITION TO WHAT CONSTITUTES A SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE HOTEL MANAGEMENT SHOULD BE GIVEN, HE SAID.

MR LEE ADDED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAD ACCEPTED THIS POINT OF VIEW AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ACHIEVE THIS EFFECT.

+ IN THE COURSE OF OUR DELIBERATION, I WAS ALSO ASSURED BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES THAT IF A HOTEL CARRIES ON A FULL-RANGE MONEY CHANGING BUSINESS IN THAT IT PROVIDES FOR THE SALE AND PURCHASE OF FOREIGN CURRENCIES TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OTHER THAN ITS GUESTS, THAT HOTEL WOULD BE REQUIRED TO OBSERVE THE PROVISIONS IN THE BILL.

/+AND THE