118 Commerce and Industry
Human Resources, Technical Education and Industrial Training
Success in the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century depends heavily on availability of talent and skilled manpower at all levels. High level education and training are provided by tertiary education institutions. The Vocational Training Council is a statutory body established in 1982 to provide a comprehensive system of vocational education and training for school leavers and adult learners. It also administers a new technology training scheme which provides financial help to employers to train their staff to use new technologies. The Clothing Industry Training Authority runs two training centres for the clothing and footwear industries.
The Government oversees a plan called 'Admission Scheme for Mainland Talent and Professionals' implemented to attract talented people and professionals from the Mainland to work in Hong Kong to meet the city's manpower needs and to enhance its competitiveness in the world market.
Consumer Protection
Consumer Council
The Consumer Council is a statutory body established in 1974 to protect and promote the interests of consumers of goods and services and purchasers, mortgagors and lessees of immovable property. The council comprises 22 members appointed by the Government from a wide spectrum of the community.
The council's key activities include testing and survey programmes, price surveillance, complaint and advice services, consumer policy studies, consumer education, and dissemination of consumer information. It also administers the Consumer Legal Action Fund, which enhances consumer access to legal remedies.
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, 24 survey projects and 40 in-depth studies were completed. The council publishes the findings of its product tests and surveys together with practical advice to the public through its monthly magazine, CHOICE, which offers broad, multi-media access available in print and on the internet as well as through residential fixed-line and mobile phones.
The council provides complaint and advisory services to the community through telephone hotlines, eight Consumer Advice Centres and its website. It acts as a mediator between consumers and the traders concerned. During the year, 29 048 consumer complaints and 117 071 consumer enquiries were received.
The council also monitors trade practices and competition-related issues that may have implications for consumer rights. During the year, it conducted various studies on topics including the provision of market information to prospective purchasers of first-hand private residential properties. It also provided views to the Government on subjects such as healthcare reform, prohibition of unfair trade practices and enacting a competition law.