XN000022-1991-06-18 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1991

PUPILS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVING A GRANT DURING THE 1990/91 SCHOOL YEAR BUT HAVE MADE SATISFACTORY PROGRESS IN SECONDARY 6 AND ARE IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO COMPLETE THE ADVANCED LEVEL EXAMINATION COURSE IN 1991/92 SCHOOL YEAR ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.

APPLICATION FORMS WILL ВЕ OBTAINABLE FROM THE STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY ON THE FIFTH FLOOR, CLUB LUSITANO BUILDING, 16 ICE HOUSE STREET, HONG KONG.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION FOR PUPILS OF SECONDARY 7 IN 1991/92 IS JULY 22, AND FOR PUPILS OF SECONDARY 6 IN 1991/92 IS SEPTEMBER 16.

COMPLAINT FIGURES ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES MALPRACTICES RELEASED * * * * *

OVER 75 PER CENT OF THE COMPLAINTS CONCERNING WEIGHTS AND MEASURES MALPRACTICES ARE DIRECTED AGAINST FOOD RETAILERS, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED BY THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY).

OF THE 425 COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE DEPARTMENT SINCR THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE CAME INTO EFFECT IN 1989, 319 WERE AGAINST RETAILERS OF VARIOUS FOOD ITEMS WHILE MORE THAN 40 WERE AGAINST PETROL STATIONS AND RESTAURANTS.

A TOTAL OF 73 TRADERS HAD BEEN PROSECUTED AND THE FINES AMOUNTED TO $174,250.

THE PRINCIPAL TRADE CONTROLS OFFICER TRADING STANDARDS INVESTIGATION BUREAU, MR REMINDED RETAILERS TO CHECK THEIR WEIGHING AND REGULARLY.

ALSO

OF THE DEPARTMENT'S ANDREW WONG, TODAY MEASURING INSTRUMENTS

"OTHER THAN ACTING ON COMPLAINTS, OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT CONDUCT SPOT CHECKS ON RETAILERS' WEIGHING AND MEASURING

INSTRUMENTS.

HE SAID.

"NEARLY 200 SPOT CHECKS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED SO FAR THIS

YEAR,"

MR WONG ALSO REMINDED RETAILERS THAT OFFENDERS PROSECUTED UNDER THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE WOULD FACE THE MAXIMUM PENALTY OF $20,000 IN FINE AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT.

A FRUIT HAWKER, A SEAFOOD RETAILER, A ROAST MEAT

RETAILER AND

A RESTAURANT HAD RECENTLY BEEN FINED A TOTAL OF $4,500 FOR USING INACCURATE WEIGHING INSTRUMENTS.

IN ALL THESE CASES, TESTS CONDUCTED BY THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY SHOWED THAT THE READINGS OF THEIR WEIGHING WERE FROM 12.5 PER CENT TO 112.5

IN EXCESS OF

PER CENT

INSTRUMENTS THE ACTUAL

WEIGHTS.

/ANY PERSON