INDUSTRY AND TRADE
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companies. These include the issue of certificates of origin, commercial carnets, endorse- ment of invoices and the processing of trade and industrial inquiries. The government regularly consults the chamber on important issues affecting trade, industry and aspects of social development.
The Federation of Hong Kong Industries, established in 1960, has a membership broadly representative of all industries. To encourage and improve industrial design, the federation set up the Hong Kong Industrial Design Council which offers practical training and advice to designers and those who use design services. The council operates a design depository for people who wish to obtain copyright protection, and organises annual design competitions and exhibitions. The federation also set up the Hong Kong Packaging Council to promote the development of packaging education and technology, and skills in packaging.
The Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong was established in 1934 and now has some 2 600 members. The association, a member of the International Chamber of Commerce, has played an important role in the industrial development of Hong Kong. It promotes product development and holds the annual Hong Kong New Products Competi- tion. It operates services to introduce new technology, encourage investment and promote trade. The association's Testing and Certification Laboratories provide a variety of services including product testing, certification, production and pre-shipment inspection, and technical consultancy. The association is active in promoting industrial safety and takes a keen interest in community and social services. It runs a prevocational school which offers technical education for more than 1 000 students, and a second prevocational school is being built.
Consumer Council
Established in 1974, the Consumer Council is a statutory body charged with the respon- sibilities of protecting and promoting the interests of consumers of goods and services. Its chairman and members, appointed by the Governor, are drawn from various walks of life. The council, with a staff of 84, is primarily financed by an annual subvention from the government.
The council is engaged in a variety of consumer protection activities including consumer representation, legislation, complaints, advice, comparative product testing, research and surveys, education and information, and publications. It is represented on many govern- ment committees to tender advice on matters affecting the interests of consumers. These include metrication, insurance, toxic substances, pharmaceuticals, trade descriptions and advertising, school textbooks and supplies, weights and measures, and unfair contract terms. An important function of the council is the investigation of complaints and the dissemination of information and advice. During the year, it dealt with 9 200 complaints and 59 000 enquiries for advice representing an increase of 15 per cent and 31 per cent respectively over the previous year. In September, a new Consumer Advice Centre was opened in Aberdeen bringing the number of centres throughout Hong Kong to nine. The fluctuations in the exchange rate of the Hong Kong dollar were among the factors which contributed to a considerable number of complaints and enquiries from consumers, particularly in the trade of basic foodstuffs, electrical appliances and package holiday tours. These were quickly resolved to the satisfaction of consumers.
The council's programme in comparative product testing continued to receive wide- spread attention from both consumers and traders. Results of the tests, complete with information on brand names, are published in the council's monthly magazine Choice. In the field of consumer education, the council maintains close liaison with the media