Consumer Council

The Consumer Council is a statutory body established in April 1974 for protecting and promoting the interests of consumers of goods and services and purchasers of immovable property. The council comprises a chairperson, a vice-chairperson and 20 members appointed by the Government from a wide spectrum of the community. It forms committees and working groups to deal with specific consumer-protection tasks. The council office is headed by a chief executive, and has eight functional divisions and a staff of 125.

    The council seeks to empower consumers and strives for a fair market through its consumer policy work, complaint and advice service, research and survey programmes, publications and consumer education activities.

    As an advocate of fair competition, the council works closely with the Government, particularly the Competition Policy Advisory Group, of which the council's chief executive is a member. During the year, the council examined a number of matters that raised concerns over fair competition and made recommendations to the Government. It also organised two workshops for government officials on analysis of competition issues in policy formulation. With international experts in this field as presenters, the workshops were designed to assist officials in proposing initiatives for furthering the Government's competition policy and examining competition issues within their areas of responsibility.

    The council's testing and survey programmes seek to provide consumers with objective and up-to-date information so that they can make informed choices. During the year, 39 product tests, 52 in-depth studies and 16 survey projects were completed. Most products were tested mainly for their safety, performance, convenience, durability and environmental impact. The tests and surveys covered a wide range of products and services, from digital cameras and skin-whitening products to credit card charges.

    The council provides complaint and advice services to the community through an extensive network of telephone hotlines and 12 consumer advice centres. It acts as mediator between consumers and the traders concerned. During the year, 22 890 consumer complaints were received, the highest figure on record.

    The council is practically in daily contact with the mass media on all matters of consumer interest and concern. Its monthly magazine, CHOICE, regularly publishes findings of comparative product tests and service surveys providing useful and practical information, advice and viewpoints to the public. The magazine's reach extends far beyond its average monthly circulation of 30 000, penetrating virtually all sectors of the community through extensive media coverage and press statements published at the council's website. The response to the Consumer Rights Reporting Awards 2002 was so encouraging that the event will from now on be organised annually and its award-presentation ceremony coincide with the World Consumer Rights Day on March 15 every year.

    The third Consumer Culture Study Award organised during the year encouraged secondary school students to conduct their own studies of the local consumer culture. A total of 412 teams of students from 82 schools participated in the programme, representing a 62 per cent increase over the previous year.

    The new Consumer Council Resource Centre came into operation in early 2002, providing consumer advice services, a resource library and multimedia computers by which visitors can access educational resources.

    The Consumer Legal Action Fund provides legal assistance to consumers with meritorious cases in the protection of consumer interests. The fund, with the council as its trustee, is administered by a board of administrators underpinned by a management committee with members appointed by the Government. Since its establishment in 1994, the fund has considered 52 groups of cases, with the number of applicants in each case ranging from one to more than 800.

    On networking, the council is an executive and council member of the Consumers International (CI), of which its chief executive is Past President. The CI is a federation of 270 consumer organisations in 121 countries dedicated to the protection and promotion of consumer interests. The council also maintains regular contacts with its counterparts overseas and in the Mainland. During the year, 455 officials from various parts of the Mainland visited the council's office as part of their training programmes and there were also visitors from other consumer organisations and international bodies.

Enforcement of Consumer Protection Legislation

The Customs and Excise Department carries out spot checks and investigations to ensure that toys, children's products and consumer goods supplied in Hong Kong are safe. It also has responsibilities in protecting consumers from fraudulent traders who offer goods of deceptive weights and measures or products made of gold and platinum that have deceptive markings. In 2002, the department carried out 3 769 spot checks and 1 063 investigations. It also organised talks for traders to promote their awareness of product safety.

    In the field of consumer protection, the Government Laboratory continues to support the Customs and Excise Department in enforcing the product safety legislation. In 2002, the Laboratory undertook 26 150 tests to determine whether or not the various tested items, including toys, children's products and consumer goods, complied with relevant safety standards or requirements. It also provided professional advice in the assessment of potential health and safety hazards posed by products that failed the tests. In the investigation of fraudulent trade practices, the Laboratory verifies whether or not measuring equipment and traded goods comply with the Weights and Measures Ordinance and determines the fineness of gold and platinum articles.