Opinion / Liang Hongfu
Laws required to rein in HK's cheating merchants
By Hong Liang (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-05-08 06:56
The Hong Kong government is getting serious about clamping down on
dishonest merchants preying on tourists particularly those from the
mainland.
New laws are being drafted to punish those who are seen to have done
immeasurable damage to Hong Kong's reputation as a shopping paradise for
tourists from around the region.
The proposed fair trade laws have understandably raised concern among
members of the business community, which is steeped in the tradition of
free enterprise. Some businesspeople, particularly those from the retail
sector, have expressed worries that such laws could open the floodgate to
frivolous litigations that can be costly and time consuming.
These concerns are not groundless. But it is important to bear in mind
that the proposed laws are part of Hong Kong's relentless efforts to
establish itself as a world-class city where the rights and interests of
those people who come to make or spend money are adequately protected.
Since the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption
better known as the ICAC in the mid 1970s, Hong Kong has won
international recognition for adhering to zero-tolerance for corruption,
which was a major curse to society.
Great efforts have been made to reform the stock market, mainly to
improve transparency. The process was fraught with controversies when
vested interests were seen as being threatened.
But the investment community has come to realize that a well-regulated
stock market is absolutely necessary to attract foreign institutional
funds. These funds are essential to maintaining Hong Kong's position as a
premier source of capital to help finance economic development on the
mainland.
Hong Kong has taken effective measures in cracking down on the
manufacture and sale of pirated merchandise. As a result of its efforts
in the protection of intellectual rights, more and more multinational
technology companies are conducting product research and development work
there.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government has proposed the introduction of
anti-monopoly laws to ensure market transparency and a level playing
field for all businesses.
There have been suggestions to limit the law to selected sectors that are
seen to have the most direct impact on people's daily life. But public
sentiment seems to prefer more comprehensive law covering all economic
sectors.
Consumer protection has never been high on Hong Kong's legislative
agenda. There have always been wise guys trying to make a quick buck from
unwary buyers. Tourists are easy targets for these conmen in Hong Kong,
as in any other city.
The Consumer Council, despite its commendable efforts to educate
consumers and, in some instances, expose dishonest merchants, has
remained a toothless tiger. The Tourist Board can do little more than
issue warnings to incoming tourists, telling them they should be careful
about where they shop.
Our tolerance for these unsavory vendors has created bad publicity for
Hong Kong. It is pointless to lay the blame on mainland tourist agencies
for organizing scam shopping trips. We must first put our own house in
order by driving the sham merchants off our city streets with tough laws
that are vigorously enforced.
E-mail: jamesleung@chinadaily.com.cn
(China Daily 05/08/2007 page10)
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