146 | Commerce and Industry
Human Resources, Technical Education and Industrial Training
Success in the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century depends heavily upon the availability of talent and skilled manpower at all levels. Higher-level education and training are provided by the tertiary education institutions. The Vocational Training Council (VTC) provides technical education and industrial training. It also administers the New Technology Training Scheme which provides financial assistance to employers for training their staff in new technologies and other technologies that are not yet widely applied locally but the application of which will significantly benefit Hong Kong. The Clothing Industry Training Authority (CITA) runs two training centres for the clothing and footwear industries.
The Government also implements the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals. The scheme aims at attracting talented persons and professionals from the Mainland to work in Hong Kong to meet local manpower needs and enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness in the globalised market.
Consumer Protection
Consumer Council
The Consumer Council is a statutory body established in 1974 to protect and promoting the interests of consumers of goods and services and purchasers, mortgagors and lessees of immovable property. The council comprises a chairperson, a vice-chairperson and 20 members appointed by the Government from a wide spectrum of the community. It forms committees and working groups to deal with specific consumer protection tasks. The council's office is headed by a chief executive, and has six functional divisions and a staff of 124.
The council carries out its functions through its consumer policy work, complaint. and advice service, research and survey programmes, publications and consumer education activities.
The council's testing and survey programmes seek to provide consumers with objective and up-to-date information so that they can make informed choices. During the year, 42 product tests, 52 in-depth studies and 16 survey projects were completed. Most products were tested mainly for their safety, performance, convenience, durability and environmental impact. The tests and surveys covered a wide range of products and services, from mobile phone batteries, canned food, hair dyes and mosquito traps to package tours. Digital cameras and mobile phones have been continuously tested in the light of their popularity. As a member of the International Consumer Research and Testing Ltd, a testing body of consumer organisations, the council shares its test results and collaborates with members on international comparative tests, producing quality reports in a more cost-effective
manner.
The council provides complaint and advice services to the community through an extensive network of telephone hotlines and eight Consumer Advice Centres. It acts as mediator between consumers and the traders concerned. During the year, 26 756
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