CHOICE is now a fully multi-media consumer information service with access for all - from print to internet, fixed-line and mobile phone users.
It got off to a rousing start today (March 15) at a ceremony officiated by Mr. Stephen IP Shu Kwan, Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, on the occasion of the World Consumer Rights Day 2006, and the 30th Anniversary of CHOICE publication.
The new multi-media service, the first amongst consumer organizations in the world, is the result of a joint project between the Consumer Council, the content provider, and PCCW, the multi-media platform provider.
From a monthly magazine of hard copy only, CHOICE was first ushered two years ago into the realm of online transmission in cooperation with PCCW Directories Limited via its Internet Yellow Pages website ( choice.yp.com.hk).
CHOICE Online, a full PDF version in both traditional and simplified Chinese, provides all of the reports in each current edition and an archive of over four years of back issues of CHOICE for access by all internet users, for viewing on annual subscription or per issue or per report basis.
The demand for online independent and impartial consumer information has grown steadily but surely. The number of pageviews to CHOICE online has risen by 26% from 1.9 million 2004 to 2.4 million in 2005, and in the visitor sessions by 50% from over 187,000 in 2004 to 281,000 in 2005.
With the inauguration of the new service to include fixed-line and mobile phone users, CHOICE has truly become a multi-media consumer information service accessible to a wide cross section of the community - literally at their finger tip at anytime and anywhere.
Through PCCW New Generation Residential Fixed Line and PCCW Mobile, consumers will now be able to access a selected number of mainly test and survey reports complete with brandname information in each issue of CHOICE from this month (March) onwards.
To fit into the new format of transmission, only an abridged text version of a maximum of 600 characters/spaces for each report is provided. For fixed-line users, an audio version is also available.
Welcoming the new multi-media service, the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr. Stephen IP, stressed the importance of consumers being able to obtain up-to-date market information in the face of a rapidly changing marketplace, in order to make rational decisions and protect their rights as consumers.
Mr. IP congratulated the Consumer Council for being the first consumer body in the world to embark on a full spectrum multi-media service for its magazine.
Mr. Jack SO, PCCW Deputy Chairman and Group Managing Director, noted with confidence that further access to CHOICE, in addition to the internet service, through its New Generation Residential Fixed Line and PCCW Mobile would no doubt be widely welcomed by consumers in general and the younger generation in particular.
Mr. SO said PCCW was honoured and pleased to provide the platforms for the service.
Prof. K.C. CHAN, Chairman of Consumer Council, said the Council is always mindful of the need to keep abreast with the times and this new multi-media service would ensure speedy access to information whenever and wherever consumers need it.
In commemoration of the World Consumer Rights Day, Prof. CHAN noted that the first and foremost fundamental right of consumers is the right to be informed in the choice and use of goods and services.
The World Consumer Rights Day is widely celebrated in the Mainland with businesses and government bureaux actively initiating and partaking in special programmes and activities dedicated to consumers. The Consumer Council could not have found a better way of commemorating this day in Hong Kong with such a debut initiative in enhancing consumers' right to information.
To promote the new service, a free trial period of three months for access to the archive section, containing initially six abridged reports from recent back issues of CHOICE, will be offered to PCCW New Generation Residential Fixed Line and PCCW Mobile users. For the paid content, the current charge is $1 per access.
Issued by
Consumer Council
15 March 2006