bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

Q What can be done to stop rip-offs in Hong Kong?

I don't think anything should be done. There is a fine line between getting ripped off and being good negotiators. Who is qualified to draw that line?

If anyone is mentally competent enough to elect to visit another country and go out shopping, it should be within their mental capacity to decide whether they are paying fair value for their product.

Economics is based on supply and demand. A buyer decides whether a product is worth a certain value (measured in utilities in economics). If it is, then they swap cash for the product. Nothing in this equation talks about comparing that value to what other suppliers are offering. Any laws or policies trying to interfere with this is interfering with free economics. As it is, Hong Kong is already losing its edge as the most free economy in the world. We certainly don't need more new policies to worsen our case.

Vince Chan, San Po Kong

Camera/electrical equipment shop owners in parts of Hong Kong have been conducting their business in this way for many years - and doing a great disservice to genuine dealers. When new to Hong Kong, I am sure, we all have been tempted by totally unrealistic prices quoted by staff in these shops. It is not until you have been stung or become street- wise that you learn to avoid these retail outlets. Of course, tourists do not have the opportunity to become alert to these tricks and most also consider that these goods are a lot cheaper in Hong Kong, and therefore a definite shopping item on any trip.

The problem does not lie with the shopkeepers. They continue to do trade in this manner because they are allowed to!

As a start to addressing the problem, all the shops in Tsim Sha Tsui and other such areas should be compelled by law to display the selling prices of all items on display. Any negotiation with the owner will be on the basis of the marked prices.

David Carden, North Point

You have done a great service to the community by exposing the downright dirty behaviour of the retailers involved. Having said that, this is good news for honest retailers such as Fortress and Broadway, which sell at non-negotiable prices and offer genuine goods. I always buy electronic goods from these retailers. Their services are great.

Shame on the Hong Kong Tourism Board for not doing something about these incidents - they are killing the tourist trade. We have to ensure that they come up with solutions - there is so much at stake here!!

Name and address supplied

I live in Canada and travel to Hong Kong several times a year. I have advised all my Canadian friends never to buy electronics in Hong Kong unless they go with a known friend to shops away from Tsim Sha Tsui. They should do full research back home regarding price, model and warranty. Hong Kong's prices, even in Mongkok, have become on a par with North American prices. The small savings mean one has to give up the warranty from North America. There is no reason to buy in Hong Kong. This way, the shops in Tsim Sha Tsui will close and hopefully drive the tourists to the legitimate shops in other parts of the territory.

My final advice: Hong Kong should just give up the title of Shoppers' Paradise and allow the tourists to visit Hong Kong itself.

Peter Leung, Canada

Rip-offs are common in Hong Kong, big and small. Regarding the Nathan Road camera and electronic stores, the quickest way to stop the rip-offs is to publish the names and/or addresses of the offending shops in your newspaper.

I've lived in Hong Kong for 16 years and it's always been the same. I've personally walked up and warned tourists looking in these Nathan Road stores not to buy anything there.

Phil Holloway, Pokfulam

Q Does Hong Kong need tighter dog-control laws?

In your report on March 12, 'Officials powerless to act over Rottweiler mauling', you wrote: Staff from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said yesterday they were powerless to act because the 10 Rottweilers involved in the attack were all licensed and the incident happened on private property.

I wonder how powerless they would be if the person attacked was a senior government official, or the spouse or child of one.

Rottweilers are not your typical kind and loving family pet. They're attack dogs. Why does the owner need to have 16 of them? Why are they allowed to bark at passers-by and scare people?

It's time the government took a long, hard look at the current laws, and sought to enforce them equally for both domestic helpers and senior government officials.

Rennie Marques,

Mei Foo Sun Chuen

Your report mentioned that the 16 Rottweilers are apparently in the care of an Indonesian domestic helper who is hired for that purpose. Various issues arise.

On what basis can the Immigration Department permit a domestic helper to be hired to care for 16 very large, aggressive dogs? The woman must be scared for her life every time she has to deal with them.

Why does the owner need 16 Rottweilers? Why is she permitted to own so many (or indeed any)?

Rottweilers are not pets. They are large, intimidating, potentially lethal animals and as such are entirely inappropriate to be kept in large numbers.

If, as reported, there has been no transgression of the law, then the law is sadly remiss. Further, I do not understand how the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department can say the dogs will be returned, in the absence of rabies, to the owner when they have savaged a human being. Those dogs should be destroyed.

I hope the woman who was attacked is given every assistance to sue the owner of the dogs.

N Millar, Kowloon

Send your emails to: talkback@scmp.com Please include full name, address and telephone number, not necessarily for publication



talkback