ENG-1979 — Page 61

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INDUSTRY AND TRADE

has played an important role in the industrial development of Hong Kong. It is active in promoting new product development and holds the annual Hong Kong New Products Competition. It has established a product testing centre and runs a product display centre as part of its trade promotion activities. The association takes a keen interest in industrial training and education, and runs a prevocational school which offers technical training programmes for more than 1,000 students.

Consumer Council

The Consumer Council first came into operation in 1974 and was incorporated by statute in 1977 to protect and promote the interests of consumers of goods and services. The council comprises a chairman and 14 members, all appointed by the Governor from various walks of life. The council is served by an office which is divided into four main sections: administra- tion; complaints and advice; testing and research; and information and publications. The office, headed by an executive director (also an ex-officio member of the council), is financed by an annual subvention from general revenue.

Since its establishment, the council has achieved considerable support and gained the confidence of the public. This is best reflected in the increasing number of complaints from consumers who feel that they have not received a fair deal from traders. During 1979, a total of 5,887 complaints were received.

The nature of complaints has become increasingly sophisticated as people are made more aware of their rights as consumers. Through persuasion and negotiation, the council is able to obtain reasonable redress for most complaints which are found to be genuine. In the few cases where it is unable to receive the co-operation of the shops, despite repeated warnings, the council is empowered to publish the facts of its investigations. This threat of exposure has proved to be a most effective deterrent to potentially unscrupulous traders. In those cases where the council is unable to establish sufficient evidence, the consumers are advised - and assisted - to pursue their grievances through the Small Claims Tribunal. The council operates three advice centres - one in Kowloon and two on Hong Kong Island - to provide pre-shopping counselling to the public. In 1979, the centres dealt with a total of 18,699 inquiries. The fact that more people are coming forward to seek advice rather than to complain is a healthy and welcome sign. It indicates that the council is getting its message across that seeking advice before buying is better than having to complain afterwards.

In the field of consumer education and information, the council continued to work closely with the Education Department and the news media which provided generous coverage of a wide range of consumer concerns and issues. A new series of shopping-guide pamphlets on domestic electrical appliances was published and made available to members of the public who sought them. The council's monthly magazine, Choice, has established itself as a useful and authoritative publication. Choice is available by subscription and at news-stands.

The council conducts comparative product testing and, in the course of its work, has often discovered hidden defects in goods. Examples include dangerous drugs in patented medicines, excessive preservatives in oyster sauce, and the faulty electrical design of hair dryers. These facts were brought to the attention of the authorities and manufacturers were persuaded to improve their products. The findings of these tests, together with information about the brand names, were published in Choice. During 1979, tests were carried out on Chinese preserved sausages, light bulbs, dishwashing detergents, various kinds of dim sum, stain removers, pencils, children's plastic water containers, knitting