XN000022-1988-07-20 — Page 26

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1988

WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION

WAS GUIDED BY

ITS BELIEF IN SELF-REGULATION BY THE TRADE ITSELF, MRS CHOW SAID THERE WAS STILL A VITAL NEED FOR CONTINUED GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION, AND THE CONSUMER COUNCIL WOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE SITUATION TO ENSURE THE INTEREST OF CONSUMERS WAS SAFEGUARDED AT ALL TIMES.

HOWEVER, SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BILL AND THE ENTIRE SELF-REGULATORY MEASURE, IN SPITE OF THE CONSUMER COUNCIL'S RESERVATION, WAS NONETHELESS A GOOD START.

"IN ORDER TO ENSURE ITS EVENTUAL SUCCESS, IT WILL BB IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO SAFEGUARD, AT ALL TIMES, THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE TIC RESERVE FUND IN VIEW OF THE HUGE AMOUNT OF MONIES TO BE HELD IN ITS TRUST IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

OF

"THESE MONIES MUST OF COURSE BE DEVOTED TO THE SOLE PURPOSE COMPENSATING CONSUMERS OF DEFAULT TRAVEL AGENTS, WHO ARE THE ULTIMATE BENEFICIARY OF THE TRUST FUND,

中 SHE SAID.

MID-1989 TARGET FOR FULLY IMPLEMENTING NOISE CONTROL

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, AS THE NOISE CONTROL AUTHORITY, INTENDED TO IMPLEMENT ALL PARTS OF THE NOISE CONTROL BILL 1988 BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON ADOLF HSU, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE BILL, MR HSU SAID THE RECRUITMENT OF STAFF FOR THIS PURPOSE HAD ALREADY COMMENCED.

"THIS BILL IS THE RESULT OF MANY YEARS OF DETAILED WORK AND CONSULTATION OF ALL CONCERNED, AND WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE," HE EXPLAINED.

MR HSU THANKED MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC PAINSTAKING EFFORTS IN STUDYING THE PROVISIONS OF THEIR FULL SUPPORT.

GROUP

THE

Fok THEIR BILL AND FOR

TO

THE VARIOUS

THEIR CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS HAD LED AMENDMENTS WHICH WOULD BE MADE AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE.

HE SUPPORTED THESE AMENDMENTS, WHICH HE

DESCRIBED AS USEFUL

POINTS OF CLARIFICATION.

/"A MORE