Forum Discussion Consumer Groups and Government: Working together, market intelligence Ms. Connie LAU Chief Executive Hong Kong Consumer Council

Characteristic of HKCC No competing government agency Created under legislation Advisory body Unpaid Members appointed by government

No competing government agency

Created under legislation

Advisory body

Unpaid Members appointed by government

HKCC Statutory Functions Protect & promote consumer interests Receive & examine consumer complaints Provide advice to government & business

Protect & promote consumer interests

Receive & examine consumer complaints

Provide advice to government & business

HKCC – Independent Organization Goverment Address consumer issues No financial burden Avoid potential political fallout Consumer Business

Goverment

Address consumer issues

No financial burden

Avoid potential political fallout

HKCC – Independent Organization Only government involvement Subvention

Only government involvement

Subvention

HKCC - Major Successes Promote advances in consumer protection legislation Change government policy that favour businesses e.g. banking interest rate cartel Advocate for general competition law

Promote advances in consumer protection legislation

Change government policy that favour businesses e.g. banking interest rate cartel

Advocate for general competition law

Working together HKCC Conduct research Make recommendations Lobby for change Government Take action when necessary

HKCC

Conduct research

Make recommendations

Lobby for change

Government

Take action when necessary

Marketplace intelligence HKCC - primary consumer research centre Computerized Complaints database Product price surveys Undertaken on regular basis Product testing Published in HKCC’s monthly magazine & website

HKCC - primary consumer research centre

Computerized Complaints database

Product price surveys

Undertaken on regular basis

Product testing

Published in HKCC’s monthly magazine & website

How to empower consumers? Information is power Product testing Industry research Competition studies

Information is power

Product testing

Industry research

Competition studies

How to empower consumers? Information to : government businesses consumers

Information to :

government

businesses

consumers

How to empower consumers? Working with government Education – Consumer Culture Study Awards Finance – Increasing bank branch closures Food safety

Working with government

Education – Consumer Culture Study Awards

Finance – Increasing bank branch closures

Food safety

How to empower consumers? Regular Press Comment Monthly, at release of magazine Covered by TV, radio, print media

Regular Press Comment

Monthly, at release of magazine

Covered by TV, radio, print media

How to empower consumers? Regular Press Comment Invite Government bureaucrats to attend Emphasize co-operative approach Enhance Council’s status Opportunity for Government bureaucrats to participate

Regular Press Comment

Invite Government bureaucrats to attend

Emphasize co-operative approach

Enhance Council’s status

Opportunity for Government bureaucrats to participate

How to empower consumers? Enroll services of entertainment industry

Enroll services of entertainment industry

Win-Win Approach

Win-Win Approach

THANK YOU !

THANK YOU !