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Reply:

Mr President,

At present, the Tsuen Wan Office of the Local Employment Service of Labour Department is co-ordinating efforts in the recruitment of local workers for the New Airport and related Projects. Additional resources have been earmarked in 1995-96 for the establishment of a special placement team comprising 1 Labour Officer, 2 Assistant Labour Officers and 2 Clerical Officers in the Labour Department to strengthen co-ordination of the work in the recruitment of local workers for the Airport Core Programme Projects and to step up publicity on such work.

End/Wednesday, January 18, 1995

Enforcement action and publicity to combat hawking of counterfeit goods

Following is a question by the Hon Howard Young and a written reply by the Secretary for Trade and Industry, Mr T H Chau, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

whether the Government is aware that there are many hawkers selling counterfeit goods of famous brand names in tourist areas such as Tsim Sha Tsui; and

what actions the Government will take to eradicate these illegal activities in the tourist areas so that Hong Kong's reputation as the "shoppers' paradise" will not be damaged?

Reply:

Mr President,

The Government is aware of the problem, but the operational experience of the Customs and Excise Department indicates that only a small proportion of hawkers in tourist areas are engaged in selling counterfeit goods.