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commercial advertising purposes. It has also initiated a study on the feasibility of in- troducing consumer representative action in order to bring legal proceedings in cases where a large number of consumers suffer but have difficulty pursuing their grievances individually due to malpractices on the part of traders. The council intends to secure better consumer representation and consultation in the area of public utilities.
The buoyant property market in Hong Kong, especially in the sale of uncompleted units, has given rise to recurring consumer complaints over the years. A special committee on property transaction was convened by the council with representatives from relevant professional bodies and government departments. It focuses on four major areas of consumer concern, namely, the disclosure of accurate and adequate sales information, liability for buildings defects, separate legal representation in conveyancing and the operation of estate agents. A package of new measures to protect genuine buyers on the one hand, and to curb excessive speculative activities on the other, was drawn up by the end of the year. To ensure its successful implementation, the council will continue to seek the full support of estate developers as well as the authorities concerned.
Rising oil prices brought on by the Middle East crisis were a matter of considerable concern to the public, particularly motorists and transport operators. The situation was closely monitored by the council's working group on oil prices whose task it is to ensure that any change in the local retail oil price is in line with that in the international market.
Steady progress was achieved in the field of consumer protection legislation. Included in the pipeline for introduction were: the Gas Safety Bill, the Electricity Bill and proposals to ensure the safety of toys and children's products and to control hazardous household goods and domestic pesticides. Amendments were also recommended to the laws of sale of goods and supply of services. A government working party is re-examining a previous proposal of the council for the enactment of a general consumer product safety legislation. The Control of Exemption Clauses Ordinance came into effect on December 1 following a year-long transitional period for businesses to adapt to the new contractual obligations.
During the year, the council received at its 15 consumer advice centres throughout Hong Kong 8716 complaints and 120 813 enquiries for advice and information on a diverse range of goods and services. Negotiation and persuasion continued to be the main tactics. in bringing about satisfactory settlement of the majority of complaints and where judicial arbitration was considered more appropriate, consumers were advised and assisted to pursue their cases with the Small Claims Tribunal. Publicity sanction was imposed on five shops which were subjects of repeated consumer complaints for dishonest business practices. The shops named by the council were a beauty centre, three insurance consultant firms and a removal service company.
The council's ongoing testing and research programme provides the much needed unbiased information for the consumer to make a rational choice. Equally important is its role in initiating the process for legislative measures, especially in the protection of the health and safety of consumers. Increasingly, the council endeavoured to include tests on new and sophisticated consumer products and took part in international joint tests on such products as photographic equipment, colour film and motor cars. Regular surveys were also carried out to evaluate such goods and services as household electrical appliances, banking, consumer credit, travel agents and video rental.
The council's Chinese-language monthly magazine Choice continued to enjoy a high circulation averaging more than 37 000 copies per issue - about half by subscription and