Commerce and Industry 127
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, 45 product tests, 19 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, seven Consumer Advice Centres and its website. It acts as a mediator between consumers and the traders concerned. During the year, 27 541 consumer complaints and 104 750 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 supply of infant formula milk products and diesel pricing. It also provided views to the Government on subjects such as the review of the operation and regulatory framework for the tourism sector, the regulation of the sale of first-hand residential properties, the regulation of mandatory provident fund intermediaries and the competition law.
In 2011, the council organised Consumer Rights Reporting Awards and Top Ten Consumer News for the media and the public and, in co-operation with the Education Bureau and local social welfare agencies, consumer culture study awards to encourage secondary students and third age persons to conduct their own studies of local consumer culture.
The council maintains regular contact with overseas and Mainland counterparts, handles consumer complaints from tourists and considers initiatives to pursue wider consumer interests. The council signed memorandums of understanding for co-operation with major Mainland cities and provinces to strengthen consumer protection for Mainland tourists. The council maintains an informative website 'Shopsmart' providing one-stop consumer information covering a broad range of topics of interest to Mainland tourists
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, that the quantity of goods supplied in the course of trade by weight and measure is accurate, and
accurate, and to guard against false trade descriptions and mis-statements in respect of goods. In 2011, the department carried out 9 781 spot checks and concluded 2 225 investigations.
The Government Laboratory provides analytical and advisory services to the Customs and Excise Department in the enforcement of consumer protection legislation. In 2011, the laboratory carried out 34 106 tests to check the compliance