TNAG-1449-FCO40-1953-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 174

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Sir,

DRAFT SPEECH BY HON MRS SELINA CHOW, OBE, JP

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 23.4.86

Consumer Council Annual Report 1984-85

HRR 01/3

Sen vakuma ka

*KOLISTKY

- 6 MAY 1986

AB/5.

1984-85 will be remembered as the year of major changes in personnel in the Consumer Council. Following the change of chairmanship in October '84, the new Chief Executive, Mrs Pamela CHAN, reported to duty in May 1985. There were also changes in the membership of the Council as well personnel amongst the senior ranks of management.

All that, I am glad to report, is behind us, and we

entered 1985 with a determination to break new grounds

grounds while

preserving the strong foundations that past members and staff had worked extremely hard to build up.

Recognizing the changing face of Hong Kong through

services,

examined our

one.

public

we

districtization of government and other

own directions, if only to see whether our

previously established policy of building up a presence in the

districts is still

correct a

The figures spoke for

themselves. We received 9,669 complaints and 65,255 enquiries at

the 12 advice centres spread over the various districts. Our decision to regionalize such services is not only needed but also in great demand.

This is not to

say that effective consumer protection can be achieved simply by the organization 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

designed to benefit the average

campaigns

consumer, by trades and

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