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INDUSTRY AND TRADE

actively seeks to promote two-way trade between China and Hong Kong. This is highlighted by the fact that since 1957 the chamber has been authorised by the Chinese Export Commodities Fair authorities to issue invitations on their behalf to Chinese firms situated in Hong Kong. The chamber is authorised by the government to issue Hong Kong certificates of origin.

The Hong Kong Management Association was established in 1960 with the aim of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of management in Hong Kong. It runs manage- ment training courses, provides management consultancy services, publishes a bimonthly journal 'The Hong Kong Manager', offers library information and translation services, and organises seminars, forums and inter-firm competitions.

Consumer Council

The Consumer Council is responsible for protecting and promoting the interests of consumers of goods and services. It comprises a chairman, a vice-chairman and up to 15 members who are appointed by the Governor from various walks of life. It has a staff of 105 and is financed primarily by an annual subvention from the government.

The council provides a comprehensive consumer protection service covering consumer representation and legislation, advice and complaints, research and testing, and informa- tion and education. It maintains close co-operation with the government through the Trade and Industry Branch and is represented on many committees dealing with a wide range of consumer issues and concerns.

During the year, the council carried out a campaign of education and publicity on the need for adequate and accurate information on which consumers could make their purchasing decisions. The campaign made extensive use of the news media, printed material and community involvement activities that included a weeklong exhibition.

The right-to-information theme will continue to be the focus of the council's activities in the

year

ahead.

When the Weights and Measures Ordinance comes into force in January 1989, it will mean that all consumers can expect to secure a fair deal in the quantity of goods they purchase. To assist consumers, the council has equipped all 16 of its Advice Centres throughout the territory with electronic scales that will enable them to check the quantity of their purchases.

After much public debate, the amended Travel Agents Ordinance came into operation, providing a new package of measures to protect consumers of outbound package tours in case of the financial collapse of travel agencies. Under the ordinance, a new compensation fund was set up by the Travel Industry Council, which is responsible for the self-regulation of the outbound travel industry.

Consumer product safety remains a constant concern of the council, despite progress made in such areas as the control of domestic insecticides, and toy safety. The need for further legislative control is being reviewed by a government working group.

The scope of the council's research and testing has been expanded to cover such goods and services as air courier and speedpost services, photocopying machines and facsimile machines which are of interest primarily to corporate consumers. Increasingly, the council co-operates with its counterparts abroad in joint tests of a more sophisticated nature, enabling it to make use of the best possible testing facilities at the most economical cost.

Consumer interest in the work of the council is evident from the steady growth in circulation of the council's Chinese-language monthly magazine 'Choice'. One issue which highlighted the reliability of condoms, among other items, saw sales rise to a record of over