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INDUSTRY AND TRADE
addition, ad hoc committees are set up whenever necessary to deal with special consumer issues and concerns. The full council is convened once a month.
A new consumer advice centre first in the New Territories and the fourth of the council throughout Hong Kong - was opened in Tsuen Wan in January, 1981. Towards the end of the year, plans were in hand to open one to two more advice centres in Kowloon.
The number of consumer complaints was 7 289 and in 90 per cent of the cases which could be substantiated in favour of the aggrieved parties, the council was successful in effecting reasonable redress to the consumer. In certain cases, the council assisted consumers to pursue their complaints through the Small Claims Tribunals for a more satisfactory settle- ment. Some cases were referred to the relevant government law-enforcing departments.
During the year, the council completed a study and submitted to government a 62-page report on consumer product safety. The report calls for legislative control to protect the unwary public from hazardous consumer products. It also recommends, among other things, the formation of a separate government department to make regulations and standards relating to consumer product safety. The report is still under consideration by government which has sought the views and comments of various parties concerned.
In April, 1981, the Trade Descriptions Ordinance came into force. It is designed to provide better consumer protection in such matters as false and misleading trade descrip- tions, including advertisements and oral statements by salesmen, spurious products and compulsory marking of goods. A Trading Standards Advisory Committee, on which the council is represented, was set up by the government to advise on the effective enforcement of the new legislation. This resulted in the formation of a sub-committee to study speci- fically the marking of gold and other precious metals.
The need for legislative control over travel agents continued to be a matter-of public debate from time to time during the year. In August, the council conducted a new survey on travel agents in Hong Kong and in October, a senior officer of the council visited Singapore to study the legislative enforcement of travel agents there.
The council's efforts in the field of consumer education and information have resulted in growing consumer awareness in Hong Kong. The council was kept virtually in daily contact with the mass media which sought its views on a wide range of matters affecting the interests of consumers. Prominent coverage was always given to Choice, the council's official monthly publication. Other activities included an annual consumer education seminar, talks, pamphlets and displays. Work started in conjunction with the Education Department on a new teaching kit and some' l' 000 senior secondary students conducted a large-scale price survey near Christmas. The council strongly believes that an informed consumer exercising rational choice in the purchase of goods and services, is probably the best means of consumer protection in the long run.
During the year, the council conducted comparative testing on a diversity of consumer products including steam irons, portable typewriters, contact lens cleansing solutions, laundary detergent powders, 110 pocket cameras, peanut oils, electronic calculators, audio cassette tapes, blackcurrant and grape drinks, liquefied petroleum gas cooking appliances and light dimmers. These reports, published in Choice, provided consumers with independ- ent and impartial information to secure value for money in the marketplace.
In May, a delegation of the council visited Guangdong on the invitation of the Guangdong Quality and Quantity Association which expressed an interest in the work of the council. This provided a valuable opportunity for the council to exchange views on matters of mutual interest as many of the consumer goods available in the Hong Kong