XN000022-1993-04-21 — Page 33

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COSMETICS PRICE FALL EXPLAINED

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1993

DENISE YUE,

WHY TRANSLATED

THE

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MISS TODAY

THE (WEDNESDAY) EXPLAINED TO

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ABOLITION OF A 30 PER CENT DUTY ON COSMETICS CAN ONLY BE INTO A LESSER PERCENTAGE REDUCTION IN THE RETAIL PRICES.

THE

THIS IS BECAUSE THE DUTY ON COSMETIC PRODUCTS WAS BASED ON IMPORTED PRICE OF THE PRODUCTS OR, IN THE CASE OF LOCALLY MANUFACTURED COSMETICS, ON THE PRODUCTION VALUE, AND NOT ON THE RETAIL PRICES, SAID.

ЗНЕ

MISS YUE SAID THE IMPORTED OR PRODUCTION VALUE OF COSMETICS WAS LESS THAN THE RETAIL PRICE BECAUSE IT DID NOT INCLUDE COSTS FOR LOCAL INCLUDE A DISTRIBUTION, ADVERTISING AND SALES PROMOTION, NOR DID IT

PROFIT ELEMENT.

YEN,

IN

OF

TANG YING- COSMETICS

A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HENRY

OF SHE SAID THE

SALE PRICE THE PROPORTION PREVIOUSLY REPRESENTED BY THE 30 PER CENT DUTY RANGED FROM ABOUT 3 PER CENT TO 13 PER CENT.

SHE SAID: "IT WAS ON THIS BASIS THAT WE NEGOTIATED THE PROMISED PER CENT WITH THE COSMETICS PRICE REDUCTIONS OF 10 PER CENT TO 12 TRADE.

WE DO NOT SEE THE "IN THE CIRCUNSTANCES,

SHE ADDED. CONSUMER COUNCIL TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER,

NEED TO ASK THE

IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET SPEECH, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO ABOLISH THE 30 PER CENT DUTY ON COSMETICS.

THE

RETAIL

HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED AN UNDERTAKING FROM COSMETICS TRADE ASSOCIATIONS THAT, IF THE DUTY WERE ABOLISHED, PRICES OF COSMETIC PRODUCTS WOULD BE REDUCED IN THE COMING YEAR BY AN AVERAGE OF BETWEEN 10-12 PER CENT.

FEW TEENAGERS ABUSE SOLVENTS

THE NUMBER OF TEENAGERS INVOLVED IN SOLVENT ABUSE IS VERY SMALL ALTHOUGH IT IS INCREASING, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, ASPREY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR ALISTAIR

ABUSE,

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ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT'S CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG THERE WERE THREE REPORTS INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER 21 IN 1990, IN 1991, AND 25 LAST YEAR.

/IN A