Session No. 5 File name : cedb(cit)- doc
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- Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2010-11
Question : The Administration has indicated that it will conduct public consultation on proposals to enhance consumer protection. What are the details of the consultation exercise? What are the resources involved? What is the timetable? Asked by : Hon. LEE Wai-king, Starry Reply : The policy review on consumer protection legislation has come to a final stage and we have developed broad directions of legislative proposals to tackle unfair trade practices that are commonly seen in the market. Our inclination is to expand the coverage of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance to cover false representations in respect of services. We also intend to create new criminal offences in the Ordinance to prohibit misleading omissions, aggressive practices and the practices of “bait-and-switch” and “accepting payment without intending or being able to supply” by making reference to relevant legislation in the UK and Australia. We will in due course consult the Economic Development Panel of this Council on the abovementioned broad directions, so that we can take account of and reflect Members’ views when finalising the public consultation document. The arrangements for consultation have yet to be confirmed. We look forward to exchanging views with Members and will ensure that sufficient time and avenues are available for public consultation. As regards staffing and expenditure, the head-count and salaries of officers involved in the abovementioned tasks have been subsumed into the establishment of and provision for the Commerce, Industry and Tourism Branch of this Bureau. It is difficult to quantify them separately.
Question : Please set out the respective number of cases where assistance was granted by the Consumer Legal Action Fund for the past three financial years (i.e. 2007-08 to 2009-10) and the amounts involved. Also, what is the Consumer Council’s estimated expenditure on granting assistance for 2010-11? Asked by : Hon. LEE Wai-king, Starry Reply : The Consumer Legal Action Fund (CLAF) aims to render assistance to cases where significant public interests and justice are involved, or cases involving a significant number of aggrieved consumers in similar situations, so as to help the affected consumers seek legal redress. By bringing representative test cases in different areas before the court, CLAF intends to establish important legal principles and set precedents for future cases. This approach benefits not only consumers who are assisted directly by CLAF but also facilitates other consumers who wish to take private action themselves. Accordingly, the number of beneficiaries is much more than those consumers who received direct assistance from CLAF. From 2007-08 to 2009-10, the number of cases approved by CLAF and the amount of claims involved are listed below:
The expenses of CLAF are affected by a number of factors, e.g. the number of applications, the number of approved cases and the progress and development of proceedings. We are unable to give an accurate estimate of the expenses of CLAF in 2010-11.
Directory: citb -> doc doc -> Replies to initial written questions raised by Finance Committee Members in examining the Estimates of Expenditure 2012-13 Director of Bureau : Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Session No. 12 File name : cedb(cit)- doc Download 4.7 Mb. Share with your friends:
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