XN000022-1986-04-23 — Page 35

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1986

33

CONSUMER COUNCIL REPORT TABLED IN LEGCO

*****

THE CONSUMER COUNCIL RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 9 669 COMPLAINTS AND 65 255 ENQUIRIES AT ITS 12 ADVICE CENTRES SPREAD OVER VARIOUS DISTRICTS IN THE YEAR 1984-85.

THIS WAS STATED BY ITS CHAIRMAN, THE HON SELINA CHOW, WHEN SHE TABLED THE COUNCIL'S ANNUAL REPORT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MRS CHOW NOTED THAT THE FIGURES SPOKE FOR THEMSELVES, ADDING THAT THE COUNCIL'S DECISION TO REGIONALISE ITS SERVICES WAS NOT ONLY NEEDED BUT ALSO IN GREAT DEMAND.

HOWEVER, SHE STRESSED THAT THIS WAS NOT TO SAY THAT EFFECTIVE CONSUMER PROTECTION COULD BE ACHIEVED SIMPLY BY THE ORGANISATION OF A PUBLIC RELATIONS STRUCTURE WITH THE CONSUMERS.

+ IT IS FUNDAMENTAL THAT THE CAUSE IS SUPPORTED BY THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, BY OUR LEGISLATURE TO EXPEDITE LAWS WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED, BY OUR MEDIA TO PASS ON INFORMATION QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY, BE IT NAMES OF FRAUDULENT TRADERS OR DANGEROUS PRODUCTS, OR MATERIALS OF OUR CAMPAIGNS DESIGNED TO BENEFIT THE AVERAGE CONSUMER, BY TRADES AND INDUSTRIES WHICH ARE FAR-SIGHTED ENOUGH TO VALUE SATISFIED CONSUMERS AND BY THE PROFESSIONS WHICH ARE ALWAYS READY TO CONTRIBUTE THE IR EXPERTISE TO ARRIVE AT A FAIRER DEAL FOR THE CONSUMER,+ SHE SAID.

+THE CONSUMER COUNCIL SEES ITS ROLE CLEARLY IN THE CENTRE OF ALL THESE PARTIES AS AN INITIATOR AND A CO-ORDINATOR, SAFE-GUARDING THE BEST LONG-TERM INTEREST OF THE CONSUMER,+ MRS CHOW ADDED.

TWO BILLS

-

TWO BILLS PASSED

***

WERE

THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 AND THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED TO APRIL 30.

-

134