XN000022-1987-07-08 — Page 55

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1987

GREATER PROTECTION FOR CONSUMERS

*

THE LEGCO AD

TO WONG,

HOC GROUP SET UP TO STUDY THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES BILL 1987 IS FULLY IN SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE CONSUMER PROTECTION, THE HON PETER CONVENER OF THE GROUP, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

C.

READING OF THE

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE SECOND BILL, MR WONG SAID IT WAS ALSO THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TO PROMOTE FAIR AND ORDERLY TRADING.

"IT WILL BE WELCOMED BY HOUSEWIVES AND SHOPPERS, PROVIDING AS IT DOES GREATER PROTECTION AGAINST THOSE WHO SET OUT ΤΟ DEFRAUD IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.

"IT WILL ALSO, I BELIEVE, BE WELL RECEIVED BY MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS.

"THIS BILL, TOGETHER WITH THE TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE, WILL NOW PROVIDE CLEARER GUIDANCE ON HOW TO CONDUCT TRADING AND MANUFACTURING BUSINESS IN AN ORDERLY AND STRAIGHTFORWARD MANNER.

"

ORDINANCE

WAS TOTALLY

MR WONG SAID THE EXISTING WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ENACTED MORE THAN 100 YEARS AGO AND LAST AMENDED IN 1947 INADEQUATE FOR THE COMPLEX SOCIETY IN WHICH WE NOW LIVED.

"THE PRESENT BILL, IN CONTRAST, TAKES A COMPREHENSIVE TO THE SUBJECT," HE SAID.

APPROACH

"IT PRESCRIBES MAXIMUM PENALTIES OF SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT AND A $20,000 FINE FOR OFFENCES CONTAINING AN ELEMENT OF FRAUD.

"THE BILL PUTS THE MAIN RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTING AND ENFORCING THE LEGISLATION IN THE HANDS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, WHOSE DEPARTMENT HAS CONSIDERABLE EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE IN HANDLING OFFENCES CONNECTED WITH TRADE."

MR WONG SAID, HOWEVER, THE BILL CONTAINED A NUMBER OF TECHNICAL AND TRADE RELATED TERMINOLOGIES WHICH WERE BY NO MEANS EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND THESE WERE CAREFULLY EXAMINED BY THE AD HOC GROUP.

"ONE OF THE GROUP'S TASKS WAS TO ENSURE THAT LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO DETER AND PENALISE DISHONUEST TRADING WOULD NOT CAUSE UNDUE DIFFICULTY OR INJUSTICE TO THE HONEST TRADER, HE SAID.

"THE GROUP FOLLOWED CERTAIN VARIOUS CONCERNS.

PRINCIPLES, WHICH REFLECTED

OUR

/"THE BILL