2
This has has undoubtedly been one of the more
frustrating aspects of the Council's work. For instance the proposal to enact the Hire Purchase Ordinance was initiated by the Consumer Council in 1977. A bill to control malpractice by travel agencies has been in the works for 3 years since 1982, and that was after 5 years of repeated requests from the Council, which first put forward the arguments for legislation in 1978. Both bills have yet to be introduced into this Council. I am however grateful to the Secretary for Economic Services who has sympathetically recognized the problem and has been most encouraging in expediting the solution. point which I find particularly gratifying is his swift action to study possible legislation to curb malpractice by retailers of electrical and electronic applicances which he announced yesterday. For much as I share his view on the power of persuasion, there comes a time when anything short of a prison sentence or a criminal record would be too mild a deterrent for
the die-hard fraudulent retailer.
A case in
Before I close I believe a vote of thanks is due to Miss Ophelia Cheung who served as Chief Executive of the Council until the end of 1984. She was responsible not only for establishing the Council's leading position in the forefront of the Consumer Movement in Hong Kong, but also for placing Hong Kong on the map of international consumer campaign.