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Agreement was co-hosted with World Intellectual Property Organisation from June 1-3, 1998. It was attended by 204 participants from Hong Kong and 26 countries. A workshop to consider the ramifications in establishing a Copyright Management Database was held on June 4.
The secondary school visit programme which aims at increasing the awareness of senior secondary school students in intellectual property rights covered 97 secondary schools and 34 031 students in 1998. A teaching kit designed for senior primary students and junior secondary students was launched in September 1998. A 'No Fakes Pledge' campaign aiming at creating a higher level of awareness in intellectual property protection for label-conscious consumers and traders was launched in collaboration with trade organisations in November 1998.
Participation in International Organisations
Staff from the Intellectual Property Department regularly participate in international and regional intellectual property symposia and conferences to keep abreast of international developments in intellectual property standards and norms.
Consumer Council
The Consumer Council is a statutory body established in April 1974 for protecting and promoting the interests of consumers of goods, services and immovable property. It comprises a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and 20 members appointed by the government from a wide cross-section of the community. It forms committees and working groups to deal with specific consumer-protection tasks.
Activities, which are carried out through the Council Office as its executive arm, range from developing new consumer protection initiatives to conducting studies on the state of competition and trade practices of various business sectors. It mediates in consumer disputes, disseminates information and advice and organises consumer education activities. It also tests products, conducts in-depth studies and surveys and examines and responds to consultation papers and reports on consumer-related issues.
The office is headed by a Chief Executive with a staff of 126. There are eight functional divisions in its headquarters and also 12 Consumer Advice Centres in various districts throughout the territory.
The council acts as an advocate of competition. It works closely with the Competition Policy Advisory Group and to encourage the business community to adopt pro-competition measures. It is already working to draw up codes of practice that will establish a benchmark for companies and trade associations to help them improve the level and standard of trade practices in Hong Kong. It will continue to receive complaints and monitor trade practices.
The council examines complaints by consumers against businesses. In resolving disputes between consumers and business it acts as a mediator. In the wake of the economic downturn during the year, it received an unprecedented number of consumer complaints. By the end of December 1998, a total of 22 750 consumer complaints were received, representing a 98 per cent increase over that of the previous year. This was the highest rate of increase in the council's history.
During the year, the council received many complaints against traders who could not honour their promises for the delivery of goods and services prepaid by