'No' to ban on paper discounts

Two convenience-store chains yesterday dismissed demands by hawkers to ban promotional discounts on newspapers and magazines.

Circle K and 7-Eleven said their schemes offering discounts of between 50 cents and $2 on newspapers and magazines would stop at the end of the month.

But the hawkers' alliance, which met last night to work out pressure tactics, said this was not enough and the chains should promise in future to respect the prices of publications.

The alliance represents about 5,000 newspaper hawkers.

But a Circle K spokeswoman said the promise was impossible to make.

'We don't know what will happen in future. If and when we decide to introduce a similar promotion again, it will be made as a business decision.'