TNAG-2013-FCO40-2865A-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1991-1990 — Page 145

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 28 February 1990

香港立法局

—————一九九0年二月二十八日

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was: 39 in 1987, 26 in 1988 and 33 in 1989. These figures do not, however, represent actual cases of injury, since the majority of complaints concerned the potential dangers of unsafe toys.

Toys for sale in Hong Kong are not subject to any specific safety control. Most of them, however, whether imported or locally made, are manufactured to internationally recognized safety standards, since very often, the same products are intended for sale in other markets where compliance with safety standards is required.

As part of its regular monitoring programme, the Consumer Council conducts testing of products considered to be of high risk and the results are widely publicized. Toys are included in this programme. In addition, education campaigns have been mounted to promote consumer awareness regarding the safety aspect in the choice of toys for children.

Nevertheless, the Administration recognizes that in the absence of control, the public can be exposed to unsafe toys and children's products. A working group was therefore set up in April 1988 to consider the need for mandatory safety standards for toys and children's products offered for sale in Hong Kong. The working group, comprising government and industry representatives, has completed a comprehensive review, and has concluded that internationally accepted standards should be prescribed by legislation for such products. The working group is finalizing its detailed recommendations and I hope to be able to introduce a Toys and Children's Products Safety Bill into this Council during the next Session.

MRS. LAU: Sir, is the Administration aware that the Consumer Council has recently identified a large number of toys capable of causing real bodily harm to young children? And where a toy is actually known to cause injury to children, will the Administration take steps to see to it that such a toy is withdrawn from the market? If not, why not?

FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Sir, we are aware that the Consumer Council has done a great deal of work in this particular area. As far as withdrawing the toys from the market is concerned, we could only do so if we had adequate legal powers and, of course, that is what the legislation will be about.