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INDUSTRY AND TRADE
commission structure for agents and brokers. The council will continue to periodically review the situation to safeguard the interests of motorists.
The council also participated in a review of the regulatory system of the outbound travel industry which has led to important changes to the existing self-regulatory structure and an increase in the level of ex-gratia compensation payments to consumers in the event of default by travel agents. The council remains firmly committed to its support for the introduction of a Deposit Protection Scheme as it not only will offer protection to smaller depositors in the event of bank failure, but will facilitate financial and social stability and enhance competition in the banking sector. The council is also strongly behind a campaign to assert patients' rights and to demand that medical practitioners disclose their schedule of charges and inform patients about the medicines they have prescribed.
During the year, 9 282 complaints and 249 097 enquiries for advice and information were received at the 16 Consumer Advice Centres throughout the territory. The diversity of topics of consumer interest, published in the council's monthly magazine CHOICE, reflected both the quality and quantity of other ongoing activities in research, survey and product testing. Numerous consumer education activities involving the community at large were organised throughout the year in a constant effort to raise consumer awareness.
Metrication
The government's metrication policy is to promote and facilitate the progressive adoption of the International System of Units (SI) in Hong Kong. The Metrication Ordinance, enacted in 1976, provides for the eventual replacement of non-metric units by SI units in all legislation in Hong Kong. Government departments are now using metric units exclusively. A Metrication Committee, consisting of representatives of industry, commerce, manage- ment and consumer affairs, and government officials, is the focal point of liaison for all matters concerning metrication. It advises and encourages the commercial and industrial sectors in the development and implementation of their metrication programmes.
During the year, the committee continued to direct its efforts towards the retail trade. A publicity campaign was launched to encourage the use of metric units in public markets. Concurrent with the campaign, weighing scales with triple calibrations (metric, imperial and Chinese units) were provided for use by members of the public to familiarise them with metric units. Publicity materials and metric conversion tables were distributed to members of the public. A poster and slogan design competition for primary and secondary school students was organised to stimulate new ideas from the younger generation on the promotion of metrication. In arranging these promotional activities, the committee invited members from the Junior Police Call organisation to assist in the promotion of metrication and appointed them as 'Metrication Ambassadors' in recognition of their voluntary efforts.