The 15th Consumer Rights Reporting Awards drew a total of 224 entries from the print and electronic media this year, and many of which concern risks of beauty treatments, food safety and bid-rigging in building maintenance works. This is another proof of heightened media interests in consumer rights.
Among the entries, 134 came from the print media, 34 from the electronic media (including 23 from TV and 11 from radio), while the remaining 35 were news photographs. To encourage tertiary students to report on news concerning consumer rights on campus newspapers, the "Campus Newspaper" category was first launched with 21 entries received from different institutions.
A total of 26 awards comprising Gold, Silver and Bronze in each of the 8 categories and 4 merit certificates were presented to the winners in the ceremony. Mr Philip YUNG Wai-hung, Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Commerce, Industry and Tourism) was the Guest of Honour of the ceremony.
In his opening address, Professor WONG Yuk-shan, BBS, JP, Chairman of the Consumer Council, spoke highly of the professionalism of the journalists who narrated stories skillfully out of their unique sharp acumen, with wordings sometimes excoriating and critical; sometimes humorous and witty, to present lively consumer stories one after another.
Mr Philip YUNG, JP, said, "The work of the Consumer Council and that of the media are complementary to each other. To disseminate information effectively to the public, the Consumer Council certainly relies on the media for comprehensive coverage. Furthermore, with a sharp sense in news, the media uncovers and conducts interviews on different news about consumer rights, analyzes and discusses consumption topics that are closely relevant to the public, including some in-depth investigative reports."
Print Media
Same as last year, the awards were hotly contested, particularly in the print media where 75 News and 59 Features entries were vying for honors.
In a series of three reports, the winning top News entry depicted attempts of a fast food chain to conceal information of food ingredients imported from the Mainland and put to use, possibly misleading consumers. The report uncovered, at the same time, inadequate regulation by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department on imported cooked food.
The top Features entry was a series of two stories on building maintenance works. After half a year of investigation, the journalists discovered that the market of building maintenance works was highly manipulated by unlawful syndicates. Order of the market was disrupted by such means as bid-rigging, resulting in steep rise of maintenance costs that are detrimental to consumer interests.
Furthermore, the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme launched by the government has been reduced to an illegal money-making tool by culprits in the absence of adequate supporting measures.
Electronic Media
Also on bid-rigging of building maintenance works, the Gold Award winner for News in the TV sector took a hard look at the causes of rocket high price of maintenance works. The simple but concise story facilitated audiences' understanding of operations underlying bid-rigging practices.
The Gold Award winner for Features in the TV sector went into details the relatively high sugar content in food and drinks available in the market and the long term health effect consequent to a high dietary intake of sugar.
Both the News and Features entries in the radio sector covered the Competition Ordinance. The Gold Award for News in the radio sector reported that telecommunications operators raised the "tunnel fee" one after another and queried whether that was the result of price-fixing against fair market competition.
Using a few cases, the Gold Award winner for Features in the radio sector investigated the possible breach of the Competition Ordinance if suppliers controlled product pricing and forced retailers to follow their recommended prices.
Photography
In photography, the top entry captured graphically a swarm of real estate agents closing in a sedan for aggressive selling of a new residential development.
Campus Newspaper
The Gold Award entry gave a descriptive account of the business operation of "selling LIKE" on internet to entice purchasers. The law enforcement authority pointed out that the act by traders of purchasing "LIKE" and good comments to falsify business goodwill could have violated the "Trade Descriptions Ordinance".
The Awards, organized by the Consumer Council in association with the Hong Kong Journalists Association and the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association, has grown in scale and authority for recognition of journalistic professionalism and excellence.
A 10-member panel of distinguished judges drawn from the participating professional organizations and the academia in journalism as well as the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Council was given the arduous task of adjudication.