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FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1986
PROPER PRODUCT-CONSUMER SAFETY BALANCE BEING CONSIDERED
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CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN TO INTRODUCING LEGISLATION RELATING TO STANDARDS FOR ELECTRICAL FITTINGS, APPLIANCES AND DEVICES SO THAT A PROPER BALANCE IS STRUCK BETWEEN CONSUMER SAFETY ON THE ONE HAND AND THE AVOIDANCE OF UNDUE INTERFERENCE WITH TRADE AND INDUSTRY ON THE OTHER, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS- JONES, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE CONSUMER COUNCIL'S PRODUCT SAFETY EXHIBITION AT NEW TOWN PLAZA IN SHA TIN, SIR DAVID SAID THAT MANUFACTURERS OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS WERE BECOMING INCREASINGLY AWARE OF THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE IR PRODUCTS WERE SAFE.
MOREOVER THE REPUTATION THAT OUR PRODUCTS WERE SAFE AND RELIABLE HAD AN IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR MARKETABILITY BOTH HERE AND OVERSEAS, HE SAID.
SIR DAVID SAID THAT THE CONSUMER COUNCIL HAD, THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE PROGRAMME OF PRODUCT TESTING, INVESTIGATION OF INDIVIDUAL COMPLAINTS AND AN AWARENESS OF CONSUMER NEEDS, TAKEN THE LEAD IN EFFORTS TO ENSURE PRODUCT SAFETY AND PROTECT CONSUMER INTERESTS, AND TO PROVIDE ACCURATE UP-TO-DATE ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC, TO MANUFACTURERS, RETAILERS AND GOVERNMENT.
+NOW IN ITS TWELFTH YEAR, HE ADDED, THE CONSUMER COUNCIL HAD MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN INCREASING CONSUMERS' AWARENESS OF THE IR RIGHTS AND THE REDRESS AVAILABLE TO THEM.+
REGULAR PRESS CONFERENCES AND PUBLICATION OF THE MAGAZINE +CHOICE+ WERE VITAL PART OF THE PROCESS OF ENABLING CONSUMERS TO MAKE INFORMED PURCHASING DECISIONS, HE SAID,
SIR DAVID SAID THAT A MAJOR ELEMENT OF THE SAFETY EXHIBITION WAS CONCERNED WITH DANGERS AND HAZARDS IN HOME.
THIS WOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF MAJOR PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS LATER THIS YEAR, HE ADDED.
NOTING THAT THE CONSUMER COUNCIL HAD 12 YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENT BEHIND IT, HE WISHED ITS MEMBERS EVERY SUCCESS IN THEIR WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY.
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