ENG-2003 — Page 173

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

A total of 360 teams, comprising 2 300 students from 91 schools, participated in this programme.

The Consumer Council Resource Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, which has been operating since 2002, provides consumer complaint and advice services, a resource library and multimedia computers by which visitors can access educational resources. Talks, visits and workshops were also organised at the centre.

The Consumer Legal Action Fund aims to give greater consumer access to legal remedies and to provide legal assistance to consumers with meritorious cases. The fund, with the council as its trustee, is administered by a board of administrators underpinned by a management committee with members appointed by the Government. Since its establishment in 1994, the fund has considered 58 groups of cases, with the number of applicants in each case ranging from one to more than 800. In networking, the council is an executive and a council member of the Consumers International (CI), of which its chief executive is former President. The CI is a federation of 271 consumer organisations in 123 countries dedicated to the protection and promotion of consumer interests. The council also maintains regular contacts with its counterparts overseas and in the Mainland. During the year, 293 officials from various parts of the Mainland visited the council's office as part of their training programmes and there were also visitors from other consumer organisations and international bodies.

Enforcement of Consumer Protection Legislation

The Customs and Excise Department carries out spot checks and investigations to ensure that toys, children's products and consumer goods supplied in Hong Kong are safe. It also has responsibilities in protecting consumers from fraudulent traders who offer goods of deceptive weights and measures or products made of gold and platinum that have deceptive markings. In 2003, the department carried out 3 563 spot checks and 1 062 investigations. It also organised talks for traders to promote their awareness of product safety.

In the area of consumer protection, the Government Laboratory continues to support the Customs and Excise Department in enforcing the product safety legislation. In 2003, the Laboratory undertook more than 21 000 tests to determine whether or not the various tested items including toys, children's products and consumer goods were in compliance with relevant safety standards. In particular, urgent hygienic tests on a large number of personal protective products such as face. masks, disposable towels and latex gloves were carried out. Assessments of potential hazards posed by commodities that failed the safety tests were also conducted. In the investigation of fraudulent trade practices, the Laboratory continued its role in verification of measuring equipment for use by traders and determination of fineness of gold and platinum articles.

Trade in Endangered Species

Imports, exports or possession of endangered species are regulated by the Animals. and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance, which implements the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Licensing policy follows the CITES principles closely. Commercial imports and exports of highly endangered species are prohibited, and international trade in less endangered species is subject to licensing requirements.

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