XN000022-1994-10-26 — Page 73

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994

AS REGARDS MR FRED LI'S CRITICISM THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED TO FORMULATE A CLEAR POLICY ON COMPETITION, I MUST STRESS ONCE AGAIN THAT OUR COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING COMPETITION IS STRONG AND CLEAR. THE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY COMMITTED TO PROMOTING COMPETITION AS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS OF IMPROVING ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY AND ENHANCING CONSUMER WELFARE. OUR TOTALLY OPEN ECONOMY, WHICH EXPOSES OUR TRADERS AND PRODUCERS TO ACUTE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION, IS A GOOD ILLUSTRATION OF THIS POLICY. THE ABSENCE OF COMPETITION LAWS SUCH AS ANTI-TRUST LAWS AND COMPETITION AGENCIES SUCH AS MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS COMMISSIONS PER SE SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN SIMPLISTICALLY TO MEAN THE ABSENCE OF A POLICY TO PROMOTE COMPETITION. THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE. IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO PROMOTE AS MUCH COMPETITION AS POSSIBLE IN HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES. THIS IS ILLUSTRATED BY THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO INTRODUCE GREATER COMPETITION IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS,

BROADCASTING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND BY OUR LATEST EFFORTS IN LEGISLATING FOR CONSUMER RIGHTS IN RESPECT OF THE SALE OF GOODS AND SUPPLY OF SERVICES, AND AGAINST UNCONSCIONABLE CONTRACTS. THESE ARE EXAMPLES OF OUR DETERMINATION TO REMOVE UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES. IN THE YEARS TO COME WE SHALL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CONSUMER COUNCIL TO IDENTIFY AREAS FOR THE FURTHER PROMOTION OF COMPETITION AND FAIR TRADE PRACTICES.

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SEX DISCRIMINATION BILL SERVES HK'S NEEDS WELL: SHA

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THE SEX DISCRIMINATION BILL IS A MAJOR STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO FREE COMPETITION IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR SUEN SAID THE ENACTMENT OF THE BILL WOULD PROVIDE THE MEANS BY WHICH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR POTENTIAL TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN ALL AREAS OF ACTIVITY.

IT WILL ALSO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ENJOY A SIMILAR LEVEL OF LEGAL PROTECTION AS THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN OTHER ADVANCED SOCIETIES IN RESPECT OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN, HE ADDED.

MR SUEN SAID: "WE HAVE NOT MOVED HASTILY, WE HAVE NOT TRIED TO GO BEYOND THE LEVELS WHICH THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE WANT US TO GO; WE HAVE APPROACHED THIS ISSUE CAREFULLY, AWARE OF THE HIGH EMOTIONS WHICH SUCH SENSITIVE ISSUES CAN RAISE.

**WE HAVE PREPARED LEGISLATION WHICH IS SUITABLE FOR HONG KONG AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, HAVE GONE BEYOND LEGISLATION TO ENSURE THAT

THERE WILL BE AN EFFECTIVE INDEPENDENT AGENCY SET UP TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SEX-DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION AND FULFIL THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION WHICH IS CRUCIAL THE SUCCESS OF ANY MEASURES INTRODUCED TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION.

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"WE ARE CONVINCED THAT THIS BILL, WHICH IS OUR RESPONSE DEMONSTRATED PUBLIC DEMAND, WILL SERVE HONG KONG'S NEEDS WELL,

SAID.

/DEBATE ON