XN000022-1993-05-12 — Page 25

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1993

11

"WE ARE HOWEVER CONCERNED ABOUT ALLEGATIONS OF DEBT COLLECTION COMPANIES RESORTING TO ILLEGAL MEANS TO RECOVER DEBTS, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE REASON MONEY LENDERS EMPLOY DEBT COLLECTING COMPANIES IS BECAUSE THEY ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE LEGAL PROCEDURES INVOLVED IN THE RECOVERY OF DEBTS.

"WE ARE NOW EXAMINING THE NEED FOR SOME FORM OF REGULATION OF DEBT COLLECTING COMPANIES, HE SAID.

ORDINANCE FOR OTHER ANY OTHER

'THE EXISTING LEGAL PROCEDURES FOR RECOVERY OF DEBTS ARE CONTAINED IN VARIOUS ORDINANCES: THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL FOR CLAIMS BELOW $15,000, THE DISTRICT COURT ORDINANCE CLAIMS BELOW $120,000 AND THE SUPREME COURT ORDINANCE FOR CLAIMS.

LEGCO TOLD OF ELECTIONS TALKS

THE AIM OF THE BRITISH SIDE IN THE PEKING TALKS IS TO ACHIEVE AN UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CHINESE SIDE ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS WHICH ARE OPEN, FAIR AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SZE, WHILE REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY REV THE HON FUNG CHI-WOOD IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

"IF AN UNDERSTANDING IS REACHED WITH THE CHINESE SIDE, WE WILL RECOMMEND IT TO THIS COUNCIL.

"THERE IS NO QUESTION OF SACRIFICING THE INTEREST OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.

ON APRIL 13 THIS YEAR, THE CHINESE AND BRITISH SIDES AGREED THAT THE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TWO COUNTRIES WOULD HOLD TALKS ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS IN HONG KONG IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION, THE PRINCIPLE OF CONVERGENCE WITH THE BASIC LAW AND THE RELEVANT AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS REACHED BETWEEN CHINA AND BRITAIN.

TWO ROUNDS OF TALKS HAVE SINCE BEEN HELD IN PEKING; THE FIRST ON APRIL 22-24, AND THE SECOND ON APRIL 28-29.

MR

SZE SAID THE TWO GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES HAD AGREED ΤΟ HOLD A THIRD ROUND OF TALKS IN PEKING ON MAY 21-23.

"AS AGREED WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, THE CONTENT DISCUSSIONS ARE CONFIDENTIAL. THEIR SCOPE IS DEFINED ANNOUNCEMENT OF APRIL 13.

OF THESE

IN THE

"THERE ARE NO PRE-SET DETAILED AGENDA MEETING, HE SAID.

FOR EACH ROUND OF

0

/12