WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1993
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PUBLIC TO ENJOY MORE PROTECTION FROM UNSAFE CONSUMER GOODS
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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO STRENGTHEN ITS LEGAL MUSCLE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM UNSAFE CONSUMER GOODS.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SPECIFIC SAFETY CONTROL SPECIALLY TAILORED FOR INDIVIDUAL CLASSES OF CONSUMER GOODS FOOD STUFF, GAS APPLIANCES AND PHARMACEUTICALS.
SCHEMES SUCH AS
HOWEVER, THE SUPPLY OF MOST CONSUMER GOODS IN HONG NOT SUBJECT TO ANY STATUTORY SAFETY CONTROL.
KONG IS
UNDER CONSUMER GOODS SAFETY BILL, WHICH WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), A STATUTORY DUTY WILL BE IMPOSED ON MANUFACTURERS, IMPORTERS AND SUPPLIERS OF CONSUMER GOODS TO ENSURE THAT THE GOODS THEY SUPPLY FOR CONSUMPTION IN HONG KONG ARE REASONABLY SAFE.
THE BILL WILL BE ENFORCED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, WHO WILL ACT ON COMPLAINTS AND CONDUCT SPOT CHECKS.
IT IS BASED LARGELY ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF A WORKING GROUP ON CONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFETY, WHICH COMPRISED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CONSUMER COUNCIL AS WELL AS RELEVANT TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS.
UNDER THE BILL, CLAUSE 4 PROVIDES GUIDELINES TO THE COURT AND THE SUPPLIERS OF CONSUMER GOODS FOR ASSESSING COMPLIANCE WITH THE GENERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENT.
IN ADDITION TO GENERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENT, CLAUSE 30 OF THE BILL WILL EMPOWER THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY TO PRESCRIBE STATUTORY SAFETY STANDARDS FOR SPECIFIC CONSUMER GOODS AND, IN EXTREME CASES, TO PROHIBIT THE SUPPLY OF CERTAIN CONSUMER GOODS.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR TH CHAU, SAID TO FACILITATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE GENERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENT OR ANY PRESCRIBED SAFETY STANDARDS, SUPPLIERS OF CONSUMER GOODS MAY, ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS, HAVE THEIR PRODUCTS TESTED BY A LABORATORY APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF INDUSTRY.
THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES FOR A SAFETY CONTROL NOTICE SYSTEM. THIS WILL SERVE AS A REMEDIAL MEASURE TO COVER THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE DISCOVERY OF UNSAFE CONSUMER GOODS AND ANY SUBSEQUENT CONVICTION IN COURT.
POWERS, THE
AS A SAFEGUARD AGAINST ANY ABUSE OF ENFORCEMENT BILL ESTABLISHES AN APPEAL BOARD PANEL TO HEAR APPEALS AGAINST NOTICES ISSUED OR CERTAIN DECISIONS MADE BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE.
AN APPEAL BOARD WILL BE CHAIRED BY A LEGAL PRACTITIONER AND WILL COMPRISE, AS MEMBERS, A GENERAL CONSUMER, A SCIENTIST WITH RELEVANT EXPERTISE IN CONSUMER GOODS TESTING AND A PERSON FROM THE CONSUMER GOODS INDUSTRY.
/THE BILL