The wide array of autofuel prices and promotional rebates that vary from company to company, and station to station, is mind-boggling to motorists intent on value for money.
But help is now at hand to assist consumers in shopping for the deals that best suit their individual needs and requirements.
Beginning today (February 23), motorists will have use of an interactive online calculator to compute, with ease and speed, how much it costs to refill the fuel tank.
Consumers can access the calculator on the council's webpage www.consumer.org.hk/pricewatch/oilwatch/ for price comparison of autofuels supplied by five oil suppliers operating in Hong Kong.
Commissioned by the Environment Bureau, the newly launched online calculator is part of the initiatives to enhance transparency of the market for vehicle fuel prices in Hong Kong and promote competition on actual pump prices.
Together with the issue of a weekly report on the gap between retail and import prices, the measures will allow consumers to closely monitor the movement of oil prices in Hong Kong.
Concurrently with the launch of the online calculator, the layout of the webpage has also been revamped to draw attention of consumers to the more salient features.
It highlights, amongst others, the net cash prices of a litre, presented prominently and clearly on the front page, in bar charts in ascending order of prices of three different autofuel products - two petrols (regular and premium) and one diesel.
The calculator is designed to help motorists navigate through the myriad of credit card rebates and bonus-award loyalty programmes which oil companies offer from time to time.
It is easy to operate. Consumers need simply to key in their requirements such as the amount to pay, quantity of gas required, payment in cash, or with credit card, or bonus point redemption.
Accordingly, the calculator will swiftly produce a list of options complete with relevant details of prices, brand and supplier's names, in ascending order of price for the reference and choice of individual consumers.
The calculator was inaugurated this afternoon in a press briefing and demonstration organised by the Consumer Council.