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and technical consultancy. The association is active in promoting industrial safety and manpower development in the industrial sector. It runs two prevocational schools which offer technical education for more than 2 000 students.
The Hong Kong Management Association is an incorporated body established in 1960 for the purpose of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of management in Hong Kong. Institutional and individual membership totals over 6 000. The association operates under its auspices a number of specialists clubs which provide opportunities for groups with similar interests to share and further develop their expertise. It regularly offers management consultancy and knowledge/skill oriented courses. More than 1000 programmes are offered annually, catering to over 30 000 executives. A highlight of the association's activities is the annual conference which provides a platform for eminent speakers to share their knowledge, experience and new thinking on the practice of management. Other management services provided by the association include the publication of The Hongkong Manager, a bilingual management journal, library and information services, seminars and forums, inter-firm competitions and translation services. To generate better management practices in small to medium-sized businesses, the Business Enterprise Management Centre was inaugurated in 1984 and a series of Chinese-language books on management has been compiled.
Consumer Council
Established in 1974, the Consumer Council is a statutory body charged with the respon- sibility of protecting and promoting the interests of consumers of goods and users of services. Its chairman and members, appointed by the Governor, are drawn from various walks of life. The council, with a staff of 88, 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 government committees to tender advice on matters affecting the interests of consumers. These include metrication, insurance, school textbooks and supplies, unfair contract terms, cigarette smoking and public health, and gas safety.
A key function of the council is the investigation of consumer complaints and the dissemination of independent, impartial information and advice on goods and services. During the year, it dealt with 9 537 complaints and 59 744 enquiries for advice. Two new Consumer Advice Centres were opened in Yuen Long and Kowloon City, bringing the number of centres throughout Hong Kong to 11.
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 and community organisations, and with schools and the Education Department.
In March, the council launched a massive consumer rights publicity campaign to educate the public on their rights and responsibilities as consumers. The two-week campaign received wide publicity in the mass media and there was active participation from the public in the various events which included variety shows, exhibitions, competitions and a seminar. The council has also rendered valuable advice to the government in preparing new consumer protection legislation to provide controls over hire purchase transactions, travel agents and money changers.