TRADE AND INDUSTRY
trade associations to use as a reference to help them improve the level and standard of practices in Hong Kong.
The council's testing and survey programmes seek to provide consumers with objective, unbiased and up-to-date information to make informed choices and to take remedial measures if necessary. During the year, it conducted 37 product tests, 53 in- depth studies and 16 survey projects. For most products, they were mainly tested for their safety, performance, convenience, durability and environmental impact. The tests included a wide range of goods, from room air conditioners to ginseng products. Some tests were conducted specifically to check compliance with legislation on consumer product safety.
Another area of work relating to consumer empowerment and protection is the council's complaint and advice service provided through its Advice Centres. Forming an extensive network in different localities, these centres receive consumer complaints and tender advice on goods and services. During the year, 16 470 consumer complaints were received. While representing a drop of 27 per cent from the historic figure of the previous year, the number for 1999 was still the second highest on record.
The council is in daily contact with the mass media on all matters of consumer interests, holding regular press briefings, maintaining consumer columns in newspapers and appearing on television and radio programmes. Apart from publications and study reports on specific consumer issues, the council also publishes a monthly magazine, CHOICE. The magazine regularly provides information, advice and viewpoints on all matters affecting consumer interests, including product test reports and survey findings. Its reach is far beyond its average monthly circulation of 27 000. Through the prominent coverage in the media and press statements on the council's web site, the magazine penetrates virtually all sectors of the community and households throughout Hong Kong.
Following the establishment of a new Consumer Education Division as part of its capacity strengthening programme, the council intensified its consumer education input, meeting a growing number of requests for educational activities by schools and community organisations. During the year, it organised some 150 talks, seminars and training sessions at both regional and district levels on subjects of consumer concern. A year-long 'Community Consumer Leaders Training Programme' was launched to train some Secondary 5 students and undergraduates of the education faculty to become consumer educators for their local communities.
The Consumer Legal Action Fund, established in November 1994 with a government grant of $10 million, provides legal assistance and financial support in meritorious cases for the protection of consumer interests. The fund, with the council as its trustee, is administered by a Board of Administrators underpinned by a Management Committee with independent members appointed by the Government. Since its establishment, the fund has considered 34 groups of cases with applicants ranging from one to more than 800. Of the cases for which assistance was granted, about 64 per cent obtained redress or other remedies.
On networking, the council is an Executive and Council Member of the Consumers International (CI) which is a federation of 246 consumer organisations in 111 countries/territories dedicated to the protection and promotion of consumer interests. The council's Chief Executive has been President of the CI since November 1997.
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