41-573: The Consumer Council is an independent statutory authority in Hong Kong , established in 1974 and formalised in April 1977 under the Consumer Council Ordinance (Cap. 216). Its role is to enhance consumer welfare and empower consumers to protect themselves. Over the course of the past four decades the expansion in the council's duties and services on consumer protection, such as the publishing of
82-538: A YouTube channel where consumers can access information in different ways. Since there are frequent cross-boundary trades and consumer activities, the Council reached an agreement with the China Consumers’ Association (CCA) to build closer partnerships especially in handling consumer complaints. To enhance the cross-border cooperation in consumer protection and rights between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau,
123-459: A corporate Commonwealth entity or a non-corporate Commonwealth entity. A statutory authority may also be a body within a Commonwealth entity, exercising the powers given by Parliament but administratively part of the entity." A statutory corporation is defined in the government glossary as a "statutory body that is a body corporate, including an entity created under section 87 of the PGPA Act" (i.e.
164-665: A customer orientation mindset among the public sector and enhance the quality of public service. Performance reporting is an important means by which the Hong Kong government controls the operations of statutory bodies in a less intrusive manner to respect the bodies’ independence. Source: The operation of the Consumer Council is supported by a number of committees and working groups established to deal with specific areas of consumer issues, including products testing, information technology, trade practices, legal protection, etc. Members of
205-699: A member of the Consumers International (formerly known as the International Organization of Consumers Unions (IOCU)), an organization for consumer groups around the world. At the international level, after joining the IOCU, the Council co-organized the first Consumer Education Seminar with IOCU with the theme of “the Law and the Consumer”. The seminar has engaged delegates from over 20 countries and regions. At
246-651: A statutory authority may be a statutory corporation). An earlier definition describes a statutory corporation as "a statutory authority that is a body corporate", and the New South Wales Government 's Land Registry Services defines a state-owned corporation as "a statutory authority that has corporate status". Statutory authorities at the State or Territory level are established under corresponding State or Territory laws. Each statutory authority tends to have its own enabling legislation, or originating act , even if it
287-455: Is a body set up by law ( statute ) that is authorised to implement certain legislation on behalf of the relevant country or state, sometimes by being empowered or delegated to set rules (for example regulations or statutory instruments ) in their field. They are typically found in countries which are governed by a British style of parliamentary democracy such as the United Kingdom and
328-640: Is a frequent host of Miss Hong Kong Beauty Pageant , TVB Anniversary Awards , and other variety shows such as The Weakest Link . She's also known for her hosting collaboration with hip hop duo FAMA in TV shows. In 1984, Cheng won the 3rd Hong Kong Film Awards Best New Performer . In 1988 and 1991, Cheng won the Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Actress . In 2000, Cheng won the TVB Anniversary Awards : My Favourite TV Role and Best Actress. Since
369-706: Is the trustee of the Fund and is advised by a Management Committee on the merits of the cases seeking legal assistance under the Fund. Followed by the council's recommendations on the licensing of estate agents to the Government, the Estate Agents Authority (“EAA”) was established in November 1997 with the enactment of the Estate Agents Ordinance (Cap. 511). Representatives of the council were appointed as members of
410-507: The Chief Executive of the HKSAR for renewable terms of two years. Source: The establishment and development over the years of the Consumer Council have largely coincided with the socio-economic growth of Hong Kong. The Consumer Council was established amidst the trend of the proliferation of statutory bodies in Hong Kong. In the 1970s, with the aim of improving the efficiency of governance,
451-517: The Commonwealth countries like Australia , Canada , India and New Zealand . They are also found in Israel and elsewhere. Statutory authorities may also be statutory corporations , if created as a body corporate . '. A statutory authority is a generic term for an authorisation by Parliament given to a person or group of people to exercise specific powers. A statutory authority can be established as
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#1732855202073492-585: The Urban Council and Legislative Council Lawyer, Public service TV executive, Politician - former chairperson of the pro-business Liberal Party Politician, Lawyer Educator - former president of Lingnan University Politician, Public service - former chairperson of MPFA, Current chairperson of the Competition Commission Business sector, Academic, Public service Statutory authority A statutory body or statutory authority
533-726: The Auto-fuel Price Calculator was launched. The council launched the Monthly Wet Market Food Price Index in September to monitor the price level of 26 food items in 44 wet markets across 18 districts. This laid a foundation for further development of the Online Price Watch. In the 2010s, online shopping became prevalent due to technological advancement. Therefore, consumers were more aware of sustainable consumption and personal data privacy. In response to
574-470: The CHOICE Magazine in 1976, the recent launch of online price-watching tools, and conducting studies on different aspects of the consumer market, have coincided with the socio-economic development of Hong Kong. Apart from being a consumer advisor, it has assumed the role as a key stakeholder in making of consumer-related policies. The chairman, vice-chairman, and members of the council are all appointed by
615-465: The Council promoted the new scheme to the public. The Council celebrated its 40th anniversary with a series of events and educational programmes, such as the 40th Anniversary cocktail reception, where nearly 500 distinguished guests attended the event. Educational programmes, including a Comic Exhibition and an RTHK TV Programme, “Metropolitan Consumers”, were rolled out to discuss consumer protection issues in different generations. The council has set up
656-511: The Council signed Memoranda of Understanding with 9 Mainland municipalities. This facilitates cooperation in the Greater Bay Area by providing an operational framework and arrangements for information exchange. Community talks targeted at senior citizens were held with social service organisations to educate senior citizens about consumer rights. Moreover, the Council collaborated with TVB to produce elderly health management-related content in
697-590: The EAA's Committees and Working Groups. The Council started to co-organize the Consumer Culture Study Award with the Education Bureau in 1999. The award is designed for local secondary school students to explore consumer cultures, attitudes, and behaviours by generating study reports and collecting first-hand data. In the 2000s, Hong Kong was hit by SARS and a financial tsunami that had a massive impact on
738-491: The Hong Kong government started establishing a large number of statutory bodies, which can be divided into five categories, namely: (i) policy committee, (ii) bodies that assist economic development, (iii) bodies that monitor socio-economic activities, (iv) bodies that monitor human rights situation, government performance, and reflect public opinions, and (v) bodies that carry out administrative orders. These independent and self-run statutory bodies are vested with power delegated by
779-630: The Interim Report on the Review of the Classification System of Advisory and Statutory Bodies in the Public Sector designated the Consumer Council as a “non-departmental public bodies”, i.e. non-commercial entities that deliver public services at arm's length from the Government. In light of the high inflation rate due to the global oil crisis in the 1970s, there were significant discrepancies in
820-538: The TV programme “Revel in Retirement” (無耆不有). In 2020, Hong Kong was adversely affected by COVID-19 and faced an unprecedented challenge. Hence, the Council focused on testing various anti-epidemic products and providing the latest consumer information to consumers. A one-stop webpage, "Together, We Fight the Virus!", was launched to provide reliable and credible information for consumers on anti-epidemic products. In addition,
861-465: The Travel Agents Ordinance came into effect. Trade Descriptions Ordinance (Cap. 362) was enacted on 1 April 1981, aiming to prohibit false trade descriptions or misleading information about goods and services provided by traders. As for Travel Agents Ordinance (Cap. 218), it was enacted on 13 December 1985 with the aim to provide for the control and regulation of travel agents. However, due to
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#1732855202073902-479: The appointment of leaders of Hong Kong's advisory and statutory bodies. As shown below, some of the chairmen of the consumer rights-safeguarding Council pre-handover were affiliated with business or professional sectors (particularly legal service), with the remaining ones having political affiliations, and civil or public service experience. Banker, Politician, Lawyer Businessman - founder of Vitasoy , Investor, Philanthropist, Politician - former unofficial member of
943-531: The auto-fuel retail prices of oil companies to help consumers choose among various kinds of promotions and discounts. Same as many other statutory bodies, such as the Airport Authority Hong Kong , and governmental bureaus and departments, the Consumer Council sets up its performance pledge. The mechanism was modelled on the UK's citizen's charters and introduced by the government in Hong Kong in 1992 to instil
984-467: The changing needs of consumers, the council also published information via diversified channels. The new Nutrition Labelling Scheme came into effect on 1 July 2010, which helps consumers understand the nutritional content of food and make healthier food choices. The Council conducted surveys on the new Nutrition Labelling Scheme from March to July. Additionally, in collaboration with the Centre for Food Safety,
1025-469: The closure of major travel agencies between 1986 and 1987, the council's proposals for redress measures were accepted, and the Travel Agents Ordinance was amended accordingly. Further, the New Weights and Measures Ordinance (Cap. 68) was enacted on 1 January 1989 to provide units and standards of measurement and weighing equipment used for trade. With Hong Kong's rising status as the financial centre of Asia,
1066-431: The committees are professionals and stakeholders drawn from different sectors of the society to provide fair and just expertise. Full Council meetings are held on a bi-monthly basis. The chairman, Vice-chairman, and members are all appointed by the Government of the HKSAR for a term not exceeding 2 years. They may be reappointed upon the expiry of their respective terms of office. The current chairman and chief executive of
1107-457: The council are Paul Lam and Ms. Gilly Wong Fung-han respectively. Statutory bodies provide a basis for a certain extent of public participation in the policy process through the government's appointment. There has been academic discussion that the colonial government before and during the transitional period up to the Handover had been prioritising the interest of business and professional elites in
1148-497: The council had conducted various research on significant consumer and investor protection policies. As the Council plays an essential role in protecting consumer interests, the Council recognized that consumers might require assistance in pursuing their rights for consumer protection. Therefore, the Consumer Legal Action Fund was set up. The council launched an extensive publicity campaign to promote consumers' rights to
1189-400: The council has been conducting product tests on numerous anti-epidemic products such as disinfection alcohol, Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits and face masks. The public is free to download test findings of these anti-epidemic gears. A new Oil Price Watch was launched on both the website and mobile application with enhanced functions in November 2020. It offers information for consumers to check
1230-502: The economy. As a result, people became more concerned about the price of different products. The Council continued to provide information on product tests and launched different tools to assist consumers in their daily lives. The council and nine organisations jointly proposed the standardised method for measuring the saleable area in the 1980s. With the joint efforts, a standardised definition of “Saleable Area” took effect in October 2008 and
1271-668: The following areas; Carol Cheng Carol Cheng Yu Ling ( Traditional Chinese : 鄭裕玲; born 9 September 1957), nicknamed Do Do, is a Hong Kong host and actress. Cheng made her break in TVB series, Man in the Net (1979-1980). She is the first to win both the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress and the TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress , which are the highest honors for an actress in film and television in Hong Kong. Cheng
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1312-514: The forerunner of the CHOICE Magazine, was first published in 1975, with an initial print of 30,000 copies for free distribution. Apart from publications, the Consumer Council opened two Consumer Advice Centres in Wan Chai and Sham Shui Po District Offices. The Consumer Council Ordinance (Cap.216) was enacted in 1977, and the council was formally incorporated into a statutory body, defining the council's functions and powers. The council has also become
1353-572: The government, which only sent official delegates to these bodies as mediators but not policy-instructors. They were also part of “the administrative absorption of politics” to secure policy legitimacy. In 2003, to improve the “openness, effectiveness, representativeness and transparency” of statutory bodies, the Home Affairs Bureau issued a Consultation Paper on the Review of the Role and Functions of Public Sector Advisory and Statutory Bodies. In 2004,
1394-545: The local level, the Council collaborated with the Education Bureau (formerly known as the Education Department) to create a consumer education teaching kit that was widely adopted in school education. Moreover, it has organised a series of seminars with diverse topics to promote consumer rights. In the 1980s, Hong Kong's economy was in the transition from secondary production to tertiary production. Meanwhile, there
1435-473: The public with the slogan “Your consumer rights are in your hands. Speak up to fight for your rights!”. The advertisement with Dodo Cheng and Ng Man-tat had gained public recognition. The Consumer Legal Action Fund was established in December 1994 with an initial grant of HK$ 10 million from the Government to facilitate consumer access to legal remedies through providing legal assistance to consumers. The council
1476-468: The qualities of essential daily necessities. Therefore, the Consumer Council was founded to protect the consumer by monitoring the quality of products and services on the market. The Consumer Council was established in April 1974. At the establishment of the Consumer Council, it broadcast the “Daily Bulletin of Retail Prices of Major Foodstuffs” every morning on the radio, offering information on price comparison to consumers. The Consumer Monthly Newsletter,
1517-556: The same fashion as an act of parliament, but usually with specific initials (depending on the authority) and a number. Just as with laws enacted by Parliament, all laws made by a statutory authority must be published in the Government Gazette. The Parliament of Australia , or a State or Territory Parliament , will delegate its authority to a statutory authority for several reasons; The power to enact legislation has been delegated by Australian Parliaments (State and/or Federal) in
1558-463: Was applicable to sales brochures and sales and purchase agreements. This helps potential buyers to gain more accurate information on the area of the property. In light of rising auto-fuel prices, the Council developed an online Auto-fuel Price Calculation in February, providing consumers with a platform to compare the auto-fuel prices of five local oil companies. Subsequently, in April, a mobile version of
1599-467: Was born in Hong Kong to Sichuanese parents, while her heritage language is Mandarin. She received an English education in Hong Kong. After secondary school, she joined the actor training program at Commercial Television Limited in 1975 and debuted as a TV host the following year. After the collapse of the CTV in 1978, she moved to Television Broadcasts Limited , where she made her name as an actor and host. She
1640-655: Was established before the relevant over-riding legislation. For example, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) was established in 1949 by the Science and Industry Research Act , but it has since come under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 as legislation covering statutory authorities has evolved. Laws made by statutory authorities are usually referred to as regulations. They are not cited in
1681-483: Was increased consumer awareness of service quality. As a result, the Council handled numerous complaints. With this in mind, the council had proposed numerous suggestions for various consumer protection laws. The council has been advocating for the enactment of several consumer protection legislation. During this period, numerous consumer protection legislation such as the Trade Descriptions Ordinance and