XN000022-1993-01-13 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1993

"ACCORDINGLY, WE HAVE DESIGNATED AIDS AS THE FOCUS OF A MAJOR CAMPAIGN IN 1993 AND WILL CONTINUE TO STEP UP OUR EFFORTS IN THE YEARS TO COME. SHE SAID.

"AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE CONSIDERING HOW BEST TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS, HAVING REGARD TO SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED AND TAKING REFERENCE FROM OVERSEAS PRACTICES, SHE ADDED.

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STUDIES ON ANTI-COMPETITIVE TRADE PRACTICES

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALLOCATED ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO THE CONSUMER COUNCIL FOR CONDUCTING A SERIES OF STUDIES TO ASCERTAIN WHAT ANTI- COMPETITIVE TRADE PRACTICES EXIST IN MAJOR BUSINESS SECTORS THAT AFFECT THE DAILY LIFE OF RESIDENTS.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY ( (WEDNESDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR T H CHAU, WHEN HE REPLIED TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LI WAH-MING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MR CHAU SAID THE DECISION TO ALLOCATE FUNDS WAS TAKEN AFTER DISCUSSION BY THE GOVERNOR'S BUSINESS COUNCIL.

THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDIES WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COUNCIL FOR A FURTHER DISCUSSION.

'WE HOPE THAT THE FINDINGS OF THESE STUDIES WOULD HELP US CONSIDER THE MOST EFFECTIVE APPROACH TO PROMOTE COMPETITION IN THE MAJOR BUSINESS SECTORS CONCERNED, HE SAID.

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IN THIS PROCESS, THE GOVERNMENT WILL ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ARE ADEQUATELY CONSULTED ON ANY LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS, MR CHAU SAID.

IN CONDUCTING THE SECTOR-SPECIFIC STUDIES, THE CONSUMER COUNCIL WILL HAVE REGARD FOR ANY VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE PUBLIC, THE CONCERNED BUSINESS SECTOR AND OTHER RELEVANT SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY, HE ADDED.

ON THE GOVERNMENT'S PART, MR CHAU SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CO- OPERATE WITH THE CONSUMER COUNCIL.

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