ENG-2012 — Page 140

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Commerce and Industry

magazine, CHOICE, which is available in hard copy, or via the internet, residential fixed-lines and mobile phones.

In 2012, the council received 27,326 consumer complaints and 104,909 consumer enquiries through its telephone hotlines, seven Consumer Advice Centres and its website.

The council also monitors trade practices and addresses competition-related issues that may have implications on consumer interests. In 2012, it conducted studies on various topics. including those related to the fees and performance of mandatory provident funds and the prices of fresh pork and beef. It expressed views to the Government on consumer-related subjects such as regulation of the sale of first-hand residential properties, the development of a Hong Kong marketing code for breast milk substitutes, the licensing scheme for private columbaria and competition law. A report on unfair terms in standard form consumer contracts was also published.

In 2012, the council organised a number of awards for the media and the public (including students and 'third age' persons) to increase awareness of consumer rights. The council maintains close contact with overseas and Mainland counterparts, and collaborates with them in handling consumer complaints from tourists and formulates measures to enhance consumer welfare. The council has signed memorandums of understanding for co-operation with major Mainland cities and provinces to strengthen consumer protection for Mainland tourists. The council maintains an informative website 'Shopsmart' providing a broad range of consumer information to Mainland tourists.

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, that the quantity of goods supplied in the course of trade by weight and other measures is accurate, and to guard against false trade descriptions and misstatements in respect of goods. In 2012, the department carried out 9,487 spot checks and concluded 2,381 investigations.

The Government Laboratory provides analytical and advisory services to the Customs and Excise Department in the enforcement of consumer protection legislation. In 2012, the laboratory carried out 33,940 tests to check the compliance of toys, children's products and consumer goods with relevant safety standards, and to determine the weight of retailed goods. Where necessary, it conducted on-site investigations to verify traders' weighing or other measuring equipment in support of the enforcement of the Weights and Measures Ordinance. The laboratory also carried out 6,396 tests to examine the authenticity of commodities and the correctness of trade descriptions in relation to investigations under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance.

Review of Legislation on Consumer Protection

The Trade Descriptions (Unfair Trade Practices) (Amendment) Ordinance 2012, enacted by the Legislative Council in July 2012, criminalises some common unfair trade practices deployed against consumers, including false trade descriptions of services, misleading omissions, aggressive commercial practices, bait advertising, 'bait-and-switch' practices, and wrongly

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