COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
The third Consumer Culture Study Award organised during the year encouraged secondary school students to conduct their own studies of the local consumer culture. A total of 412 teams of students from 82 schools participated in the programme, representing a 62 per cent increase over the previous year.
The new Consumer Council Resource Centre came into operation in early 2002, providing consumer advice services, a resource library and multimedia computers by which visitors can access educational resources.
The Consumer Legal Action Fund provides legal assistance to consumers with meritorious cases in 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 members appointed by the Government. Since its establishment in 1994, the fund has considered 52 groups of cases, with the number of applicants in each case ranging from one to more than 800.
On networking, the council is an executive and council member of the Consumers International (CI), of which its chief executive is Past President. The CI is a federation of 270 consumer organisations in 121 countries dedicated to the protection and promotion of consumer interests. The council also maintains regular contacts with its counterparts overseas and in the Mainland. During the year, 455 officials from various parts of the Mainland visited the council's office as part of their training programmes and there were also visitors from other consumer organisations and international bodies.
Enforcement of Consumer Protection Legislation
The Customs and Excise Department carries out spot checks and investigations to ensure that toys, children's products and consumer goods supplied in Hong Kong are safe. It also has responsibilities in protecting consumers from fraudulent traders who offer goods of deceptive weights and measures or products made of gold and platinum that have deceptive markings. In 2002, the department carried out 3 769 spot checks and 1 063 investigations. It also organised talks for traders to promote their awareness of product safety.
In the field of consumer protection, the Government Laboratory continues to support the Customs and Excise Department in enforcing the product safety legislation. In 2002, the Laboratory undertook 26 150 tests to determine whether or not the various tested items, including toys, children's products and consumer goods, complied with relevant safety standards or requirements. It also provided professional advice in the assessment of potential health and safety hazards posed by products that failed the tests. In the investigation of fraudulent trade practices, the Laboratory verifies whether or not measuring equipment and traded goods comply with the Weights and Measures Ordinance and determines the fineness of gold and platinum articles.
Trade in Endangered Species
Imports, exports or possession of endangered species are regulated by the Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance, which implements the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Licensing policy follows the CITES principles closely. Commercial imports and exports of highly endangered species are prohibited, and international trade in less-endangered species is subject to licensing requirements.
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