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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, today (Friday) visited the Consumer Council and saw at first hand the diverse range of work in consumer empowerment and protection.

Mr Tung was briefed by the Council's Chairman, Professor Andrew Chan Chi-fai, the Vice-Chairman, Dr John Ho, and Chief Executive, Mrs Pamela Chan Wong Shui, and had discussions with Council Members on various aspects of the Council's work.

Mr Tung noted the Council's efforts to safeguard consumers' interest on the one hand, and to promote a fair and competitive environment for businesses to operate on the other.

He was impressed by the Council's vigilance of the ever-changing marketplace and the swift responses to public concerns on consumer issues from price increases to hazardous products, trade practices to legislation.

"The Council has always been working hard to safeguard consumers' interest and to promote a competitive environment for business. These efforts are well-recognised," he said.

Mr Tung also noted the many challenges facing the Council brought on by globalisation and rapid technological advances such as e-commerce and issues relating to green and sustainable consumption.

On e-commerce, Mr Tung was informed that the Council took part in a number of international research and surveillance projects that include the annual worldwide Internet Sweep Day to identify and educate operators of questionable web sites and an International Code of Practice on Internet Shopping. Through such exercises the Council is able to develop expertise and tender advice to both consumers and businesses.

The Council's Chairman explained to Mr Tung that in the years ahead, the Council would keep abreast of the global development and would initiate more "Green Testing" projects. The Council has long been concerned with environmental issues and for many years has included in its testing of consumer products an assessment of their impact on the environment and offered advice to consumers on products that are environmentally friendly.

Mr Tung was also briefed on the close relations which the Council has established with counterpart organisations the world over, and those in Mainland China.

During a tour of the Council's office, Mr Tung was shown the operation of its head office Consumer Advice Centre in consumer advice, activities in consumer complaint resolution, and exhibits of hazardous products tested by the Council.

Photo: The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, looked at exhibits of products tested by the Consumer Council during his visit to the Council. The exhibits included gold plated plaques, tested for their gold content, as well as hazardous products such as electric candles for Chinese shrine and toy-like cigarette lighters. Photograph shows Mr Tung being briefed on the practice of some traders who sold bottles of dangerous household chemicals in beer bottles without proper labelling and warning.

End/Friday, January 14, 2000

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