FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1988
THE
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE TO TAKE EFFECT
AT
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE 1987, WHICH AIMS PROVIDING MORE EFFECTIVE CONSUMER PROTECTION, WILL COME INTO FORCE ON JANUARY 1 NEXT YEAR.
DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS, STARTING FROM THE ENFORCEMENT DATE OF THE ORDINANCE, THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT WILL WARN AND ADVISE RETAILERS, RATHER THAN PROSECUTE, EXCEPT IN FRAUDULENT CASES.
SERIOUS OR
COMMENCEMENT
THE ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN JULY LAST YEAR. THE NOTICE WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE GRACE PERIOD WAS TO GIVE PARTIES CONCERNED TIME TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ORDINANCE.
AND INDUSTRY
BRANCH, MR
AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE TRADE STEVE BARCLAY, SAID THE OBJECTIVE OF THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE WAS TO PROVIDE A LEGAL FRAMEWORK EQUITABLE FOR BOTH BUYERS AND SELLERS IN THE LIGHT OF MODERN CIRCUMSTANCES AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT.
"IN PARTICULAR, IT AIMS AT PROTECTING CONSUMERS FROM FRAUDULENT OR UNFAIR TRADING PRACTICES IN CONNECTION WITH QUANTITY AND PREVENTING UNFAIR COMPETITION WHEN DISHONEST TRADERS MAY OFFER CHEAPER PRICES BY APPLYING INACCURATE WEIGHTS OR MEASURES то GOODS, HE SAID.
ET
UNDER THE NEW LEGISLATION, ONLY THOSE METRIC, BRITISH IMPERIAL AND CHINESE UNITS, AND WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, RESPECTIVELY SPECIFIED IN THE SECOND AND THIRD SCHEDULES TO THE ORDINANCE, WILL BE PERMITTED FOR TRADE PURPOSES.
THE ORDINANCE WILL BE ENFORCED BY THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE
DEPARTMENT.
AUTHORISED OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT WILL ACT IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS AND WILL CONDUCT SPOT CHECKS ON TRADERS' PREMISES TO VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF THEIR EQUIPMENT.
PROSECUTION WILL BE INITIATED WHEN CLEAR EVIDENCE OF FRAUD 19 Detected. OFFENDERS FACE A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF $20,000 AND
SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT.
LEAFLETS OUTLINING THE MAIN POINTS OF THE ORDINANCE WILL BR DISTRIBUTED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE PUBLIC.
COPIES OF THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE 1987 CAN BE PURCHASED FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.
TRADING
FURTHER ENQUIRIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE INVESTIGATION BUREAU, CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT, ROOM ON CENTRE, 111 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG.
THE TELEPHONE NUMBER IS 5-441711, EXT.23.
STANDARDS 1405, WING
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