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商(廠
C. M. A.
5.
tradition in business both East and West, and has continued for centuries. It represents a reasonable reward for service rendered which facilitates trading. It helps Hong Kong in- dustries to be more flexible and to be adaptable to customer's demands and practical circumstances, and it has increased our competitive ability.
If other countries and territories do not forbid commissions, but the law in Hong Kong does, Hong Kong products will no longer be able to compete, even if their quality is superior to that of the products supplied by other countries. The result will be cuts in orders for Hong Kong; Hong Kong's economy and employment will be seriously affected.
The Associations agree that corruption involv- ing employees of the Government (or the public bodies listed in the Schedule to the Ordinance) should be dealt with by the I.C.A.C.
On the other hand, "irregularities" within the private sector, including breaches of employ- ment contracts, or pocketing of commissions by employees, are commercial crimes, and, as such, the employers or principals concerned may take action under other existing laws.
The Commercial Crimes Office of the Royal Hong Kong Police can investigate those and bring the culprits to court.
There does not appear to be any need, therefore, for an additional body, namely the I.C.A.C. to concern itself with such "irregularities" in private sector transactions. That would be a wasteful duplication of effort and not only is the civil service staff wastefully increased, but also public expenditure (that is to say the spending of our taxes) is unnecessarily increased.
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