It was a productive and fruitful year for the Consumer Council in its manifold endeavours to enhance consumer interests and welfare.
It was also a year to plan for new vision and commitment for the way ahead.
This was how the Chairman of the Council Prof. K.C. CHAN, summed up succinctly the work of the Consumer Council of the past year 2006.
Significantly, the Chairman cited amongst others a number of notable events that helped change the well-being of consumers and strengthen the Council's work into the future.
CHOICE, for example, on its 30th anniversary, has vastly expanded its distribution network - from print originally to internet online, and now to cover also residential fixed-line and mobile phones.
It has earned the Council the distinction of being the first in the world among consumer bodies to have established such a full multi-media access to consumer information. Much remains to be done to keep pace with the world of digital information, and to enlarge its coverage.
In a major litigation involving a property developer, the Council, with the assistance of CLAF (Consumer Legal Action Fund), successfully obtained for the consumer settlement sum of $900,000 and costs.
The case sent a strong message to the community that provision of clear and unambiguous information is essential in any property sale. Consumers are urged to be vigilant and to verify all claims in any property transaction in order to safeguard their rights.
Rarely has a research study of the Council achieved the same impact and immediate action in response from the highest levels of Government of both the Mainland and Hong Kong SAR as its report on PAAG, a "probable carcinogen" breast augmentation material that caused many women to suffer the consequence in great agony emotionally and physically.
The public revelation by the Council, with the aid of the Hong Kong Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, has led to a ban on the injection of PAAG for breast enlargement, and subsequent legal claims by the victims.
The year saw a slight decline in the total number of complaints from consumers and tourists visiting Hong Kong - 35,962 cases in 2006 compared with 36,614 cases in 2005. Though just a slight drop of 2%, it bucks the trend of unabated increase since 1999. A detailed analysis of the complaint statistics is at annexure.
A new permanent home was found to house staff of the complaints and advice division - at a purchase price of $12.2 million with a special grant from the Government. The relocation was effected in October.
The year also saw the fruition and implementation of a voluntary Code of Practice for Hong Kong's fast growing beauty industry. The Code, made possible in a project of collaboration between the industry and the Council over a period of 19 months, has since helped curb the incidence of consumer dissatisfaction and complaints.
Into the next three years, the Council has undertaken a major management review to plan for the way ahead.
The review has identified four key areas to further its work in consumer empowerment and protection:
- to continue to be the effective, influential voice for consumers.
- to empower consumers with information and educational programmes tailored made to cater to Hong Kong's economic and demographic changes.
- to enhance, through effective communication with various stakeholders - consumers at large, complainants, businesses - understanding of the Council's overall multifaceted functions and activities in the consumer field.
- to facilitate integration with the Mainland in respect of consumer protection.
A detailed strategic plan with new goals and tasks is being drawn up towards this new vision and commitment.
Said the Chairman, Prof. K.C. CHAN who assumed the Council's chairmanship 15 months ago: "Thanks to the invaluable contribution of the Council Members and the professionalism and dedication of the staff, the Council has been able to play a most active role in its service to the community.
"We look forward to another year of new challenges and exciting opportunities," he added.
Issued by
Consumer Council
11 January 2007