XN000022-1993-06-02 — Page 25

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1993

12

BANK CHARGES ARE COMMERCIAL DECISIONS

* * * * *

THE SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES, MR MICHAEL CARTLAND, SAID BANKS IN HONG KONG WERE FREE TO SET THEIR OWN SCALE OF CHARGES TO MEET THEIR OWN REQUIREMENTS.

"THE ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERS IT SHOULD, WHEREVER POSSIBLE, AVOID INTERFERENCE WITH COMMERCIAL DECISIONS WHICH GENERALLY ARE BEST LEFT TO THE MARKET, HE SAID.

REPLYING то A QUESTION BY THE HON MAN SAI-CHEONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR CARTLAND SAID CHARGES FOR SERVICES RENDERED WERE COMMERCIAL DECISIONS.

"CONSUMERS ARE EQUALLY FREE TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN BANKS," HE

SAID.

·

'CONSUMER RIGHTS ARE A MATTER BEST LEFT TO THE CONSUMER COUNCIL

HE ADDED.

TO PURSUE,

MR CARTLAND SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WAS AWARE OF CONSUMER CONCERNS ABOUT THE PRACTICE OF SOME BANKS IMPOSING HANDLING CHARGES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES ON CASH DEPOSITS EXCEEDING SPECIFIED AMOUNTS.

IT

IS ALSO AWARE THAT THE SUBJECT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BETWEEN THE CONSUMER COUNCIL AND THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS, HE SAID.

THE REASON FOR THE CHARGES IS TO RECOVER THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS INVOLVED IN HANDLING LARGE AMOUNTS OF BANK NOTES, WHICH MAY INVOLVE NO CORRESPONDING GENERATION OF INCOME.

IN PRACTICE, HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT TYPICALLY ONLY SMALL PROPORTION OF TOTAL CASH DEPOSITS ATTRACT ANY CHARGES.

A

VERY

THAILAND FACTORY FIRE TRAGEDY UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN IN HK

IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT A SIMILAR SITUATION LIKE THE RECENT TOY FACTORY FIRE IN BANGKOK COULD ARISE IN HONG KONG, GIVEN THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, AND STANDARDS THROUGH REGULAR INSPECTIONS HERE.

ENFORCEMENT OF SAFETY

SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR ASPREY, WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG MAN-KWONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR ASPREY SAID THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAD ALREADY TAKEN ACTION INSPECT FACTORIES, CONCENTRATING ON FIRE EXITS, PASSAGEWAYS AND FIRE SAFETY INSTALLATIONS.

TO

IN

THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS CONTINUING ITS INSPECTIONS INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS TO ENSURE THAT COMMON CORRIDORS AND EXITS ARE NOT BLOCKED, AND ΤΟ REMIND FACTORY OWNERS TO OBSERVE THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS IN THE USE OF INFLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES.

/HE SAID