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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1984
QUESTION OF DANGEROUS CONSUMER PRODUCTS EXPLAINED
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THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ITSELF KEEP A CENTRAL RECORD OF ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THE USE OF DANGEROUS CONSUMER PRODUCTS, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, HOWEVER, INCLUDES AMONG ITS STATUTORY FUNCTIONS THE RECEIVING AND EXAMINING OF COMPLAINTS BY CONSUMER OF GOODS AND SERVICES, MR JACOBS ADDED.
+ IN THIS CONTEXT, THE COUNCIL KEEPS A RECORD OF ALL COMPLAINTS RECEIVED, INCLUDING DETAILS OF ANY ACCIDENTS INVOLVED, HE SAID, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON SELINA CHOW.
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+ THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, A WHOLLY SUBVENTED ORGANISATION ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT, PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROTECTING THE PUBLIC BY UNDERTAKING EXTENSIVE HE POINTED OUT.
PRODUCT TESTING,+
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THE COUNCIL PUBLISHES ITS FINDINGS, AND IN A NUMBER CASES, ITS PUBLICITY IN RELATION TO THE DANGERS OF USING A PARTICULAR PRODUCT HAS LED TO THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE PRODUCT FROM THE MARKET OR ITS IMPROVEMENT TO AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD OF SAFETY.
+ IN AREAS OF MAJOR PUBLIC CONCERN, SUCH AS GAS WATER HEATER SAFETY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN DIRECT STEPS TO ELIMINATE THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF UNSAFE PRODUCTS.
+AS I MENTIONED IN THIS COUNCIL ON JANUARY 11 THIS YEAR, FURTHER LEGISLATION ON GAS SAFETY IS PLANNED,+ MR JACOBS SAID.
HE SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S BELIEF THAT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE WIDE RANGING PROBLEM OF PRODUCT SAFETY WERE BEST DEALT WITH BY THE PARTICULAR DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED.
+FOR EXAMPLE, THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES IS NOW PREPARING DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR NEW REGULATIONS WHICH WILL IMPOSE STANDARDS FOR CERTAIN ELECTRICAL FITTINGS AND APPLIANCES, HE ADDED.
MR JACOBS THANKED THE CONSUMER COUNCIL FOR REGULARLY DRAWING THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTENTION TO PRODUCTS WHICH, IF DEFECTIVE OR . WRONGLY USED, COULD REPRESENT A THREAT TO THE CONSUMER.
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