CONSUMER COUNCIL ORDINANCE
CONSUMER COUNCIL ORDINANCE
(CHAPTER 216)
CONTENTS
Section
PART I PRELIMINARY
1. Short title
2. Interpretation
PART II INCORPORATION AND POWERS
3. Incorporation of Consumer Council
4. Functions of Council
5. Powers of Council
6. Membership of Council
7. Meetings of Council
8. Committees
9. Disclosure of member's interest
10. Appointment of staff and advisers
11. Documents of Council
PART III FINANCIAL
12. Resources of Council
13. Borrowing powers
14. Investment of funds
15. Estimates
16. Accounts, audit and annual report
PART IV GENERAL
17. Council not servant or agent of Crown
18. Governor may give directions
19. Protection of members of Council and committees
20. Prohibition of exploitation of the Council's name for advertisement
purposes
21. Transitional provisions
Schedule
Whole document
To incorporate the Consumer Council, to define its functions and powers,
to negative personal liability of members and employees for the Council's
or its committees' acts or omissions, and for connected purposes.
[15 July 1977] L. N. 167 of 1977
PART I PRELIMINARY
1. Short title
This Ordinance may be cited as the Consumer Council Ordinance.
2. Interpretation
In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires-
"Council" means the Consumer Council incorporated by section 3 (1);
"financial year" means each period of 12 months ending with 31 March;
"member" means a member of the Council.
PART II INCORPORATION AND POWERS
3. Incorporation of Consumer Council
(1) The Consumer Council existing at the commencement of this Ordinance is
hereby created a body corporate consisting of the persons who from time to
time hold office as members of the Council.
(2) The Council shall have perpetual succession and a common seal and
shall be capable of suing and being sued and of doing and suffering all
such other acts and things as bodies corporate may lawfully do and suffer.
(3) The Council shall continue to be known in the Chinese language as.
4. Functions of Council
(1) The functions of the Council are to protect and promote the interests
of consumers of goods and services and purchasers, mortgagors and lessees
of immovable property by-
(a) collecting, receiving and disseminating
information concerning goods, services and immovable property;
(b) receiving and examining complaints by and giving advice to consumers
of goods and services and purchasers, mortgagors and lessees of immovable
property;
(c) taking such action as it thinks justified by information in its
possession, including tendering advice to the Government or to any public
officer;
(d) encouraging business and professional associations to
establish codes of practice to regulate the activities of their members;
(e) undertaking such other functions as the Council may adopt with the
prior approval of the Governor in Council.
(2) The Governor may be notice in writing to the Council declare any
goods, services or immovable property or class of goods, services or
immovable property to be outside the scope of the Council's functions
under subsection (1).
(3) In subsection (1) and in section 5 (2) (c) "goods and services" does
not include goods and services which are-
(a) supplied by-
(i) the Government, the Urban Council or the Regional Council; or (Amended
39 of 1985 s. 60)
(ii) a body mentioned in the Schedule; or
(b) made the subject of a declaration under subsection (2).
(4) The Governor in Council may, by order published in the Gazette, amend
the Schedule. (Amended 5 of 1992 s. 2)
5. Powers of Council
(1) The Council may do such things as are reasonably necessary to enable
it to carry out its functions.
(2) Without restricting the generality of subsection (1), the Council may
in carrying out its functions-
(a) acquire, hold and dispose of all kinds of property movable and
immovable and in any manner which it thinks fit;
(b) enter into any contract;
(c) undertake the testing and examination of goods and services and
inspection of immovable property; (Amended 5 of 1992s. 3)
(d) produce or distribute, by way of sale or otherwise, any publication
which is of interest to consumers;
(e) do any thing which it may do under this ordinance in association or
co-operation with any other person or sponsor any other person to do that
thing;
(f) charge for the use of any facility or service provided by the Council;
(g) with the prior approval of the Governor, become a member of or
affiliate to any international body concerned with consumer matters.
6. Membership of Council
(1) The Council shall consist of the following members-
(a) a Chairman who shall be appointed by the Governor for a term not
exceeding 2 years;
(b) a Vice-Chairman who shall be appointed by the Governor for a term not
exceeding 2 years; and (Replaced 28 of 1985 s. 2)
(c) not more than 20 other persons each of whom shall be appointed by the
Governor for a term not exceeding 2 years. (Replaced 28 of 1989 s. 2)
(2) The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and any other member appointed under
subsection (1) (c) may be reappointed upon expiry of their respective
terms of office. (Amended 28 of 1985 s. 2)
(3) The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and any other member appointed under
subsection (1) (c) may at any time- (Amended 28 of 1985 s. 2)
(a) resign his office by notice to the Governor; or
(b) be removed therefrom by the Governor for permanent incapacity or other
sufficient cause, and upon such resignation or removal the term for which
he was appointed shall be deemed to have expired.
(4) Where the Chairman, Vice-Chairman or any other member appointed under
subsection (1) (c) is precluded by temporary incapacity or other cause
from exercising his functions as such for any period the Governor may
appoint another person to act in place of the Chairman Vice-Chairman or
other member during such period with all such rights, powers, duties or
liabilities as if he had been appointed under subsection (1). (Amended 28
of 1985s. 2)
(5) (Replaced 28 of 1985s. 2)
(6) Where any question arises under subsection (3) or (4) as to whether
any incapacity or cause exists or whether any incapacity is temporary or
permanent or any cause sufficient, the decision of the Governor thereon
shall be final.
7. Meetings of Council
(1) Meetings of the Council shall be held at such times and places as the
Council, the Chairman or in his absence, the Vice-Chairman may from time
to time appoint.
(2) The following procedural provisions shall apply to
every meeting of the Council and subject thereto the Council may regulate
its own procedure-
(a) at meetings of the Council 11 members shall form a quorum; (Replaced
28 of 1989 s. 3. Amended 5 of 1992 s. 4)
(b) the Chairman or in his absence, the Vice-Chairman shall preside or, if
both are absent or disqualified under section 9 (c), the members present
shall appoint one of their number to preside;
(c) every question shall be determined by a majority of votes of the
members present and voting thereon;
(d) in the event of an equality of votes the member presiding shall have a
casting vote in addition to his ordinary vote.
(Amended 28 of 1985 s. 3)
8. Committees
(1) The Council may appoint committees and may delegate to them the
exercise and performance of any of its powers and functions except this
power of delegation.
(2) Persons who are not members of the Council are
eligible for appointment to committees.
(3) Subject to the terms of any delegation by the Council, every
committee-
(a) may exercise and perform the delegated powers and functions
with the same effect as if it were the Council itself;
(b) shall be presumed to be acting in accordance with the terms of the
delegation in the absence of proof to the contrary;
(c) may regulate its own procedure.
9. Disclosure of member's interest
If a member of the Council, or of any committee of the Council, has a
direct or indirect commercial interest in any matter under discussion at a
meeting of the Council or of the committee, being an interest greater than
that which he has as a member of the general public, the following
provisions shall apply-
(a) he shall disclose the nature of his interest at the meeting;
(b) the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes;
(c) where the disclosure is made by the member presiding, he shall vacate
the chair during the discussion;
(d) the member (including one who has vacated the chair under paragraph
(c)) shall, if so required by the member presiding, withdraw from the
meeting during the discussion and shall not in any case, except as
otherwise determined by the member presiding, vote on any resolution
concerning the matter or be counted for the purpose of establishing the
existence of a quorum.
10. Appointment of staff and advisers
(1) Subject to subsection (4), the Council shall appoint a person to hold
the office of Chief Executive. (Amended 28 of 1985 s. 4)
(2) The Council may appoint such other employees as it thinks fit and
subject to subsection (4), determine all matters relating to their
remuneratior and terms and conditions of appointment or employment.
(3) The Council may engage the services of technical and professional
advisers in such manner and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
(4) The Council shall obtain the prior approval of the Governor to-
(a) any appointment proposed to be made under subsection (1) and the terms
and conditions thereof;
(b) the suspension or dismissal of the Chief Executive;
(c) the salary or salary scale (including allowances and other pecuniary
benefits) and conditions of employment applicable to the Chief Executive
and every other employee or class employee, and any variation thereof.
(Amended 28 of 1985 s. 4)
(5) No person shall be employed by the Council otherwise than on the salar
or salary scale or on the conditions of employment applicable to that pers
approved by the Governor under subsection (4).
11. Documents of Council
(1) The Council may make and execute all such documents as may expedient
for or conducive to the exercise and performance of its power functions
and duties.
(2) The fixing of the seal of the Council to any document
shall-
(a) be authorized by resolution of the Council; and
(b) be authenticated by the signatures of any 2 members authorize by
resolution of the Council, either generally or specially, to ao for that
purpose.
(3) Any document purporting to be duly executed under the seal of the
Council shall, unless the contrary is proved, be considered to be duly
executed.
(4) Any contract or instrument which if entered into or executed by a
person not being a body corporate would not be required to be in the form
of a deed may be entered into or executed on behalf of the Council by any
person generally or specially authorized by the Council for that purpose.
PART III FINANCIAL
12. Resources of Council
(1) The Governor may, out of money appropriated for the purpose by the
Legislative Council, authorize payment to the Consumer Council of such
amounts as he thinks fit.
(2) The resources of the Council shall consist
of-
(a) all money received by the Council pursuant to subsection (1);
(b) money paid to the Council by way of donations, fees, subscriptions,
rent and interest;
(c) all other money and property, including accumulations of income,
received by the Council for its purposes.
13. Borrowing powers
The Council may, with the approval of the Financial Secretary, borrow or
otherwise raise money and charge all or any part of its property as
security therefor.
14. Investment of funds
All money of the Council that is not immediately required shall be
invested-
(a) on fixed deposit in any bank or savings bank approved by the
Financial Secretary, either generally or in any particular case, for the
purpose; or
(b) in such other forms of investment as the Financial Secretary may
approve.
15. Estimates
The Council shall in each financial year adopt estimates of income and
expenditure for the ensuing financial year and, before a date to be
appointed by the Financial Secretary, send them to the Governor for his
approval together with a programme of its proposed activities for the
ensuing financial year.
16. Accounts, audit and annual report
(1) The Council shall keep proper accounts and proper records in relation
thereto and shall within 3 months after the expiry of a financial year, or
such further period as the Financial Secretary may allow, prepare a
statement of the accounts of the Council, which statement shall include an
income and expenditure account and a balance sheet.
(2) The Council
shall, subject to subsection (3), appoint an auditor, who shall be
entitled to have access at any time to all books of account, vouchers and
other financial records of the Council and to require such information and
explanations relating thereto as he thinks fit.
(3) The Council shall obtain the prior approval of the Financial Secretary
to any appointment proposed to be made under subsection (2).
(4) The auditor shall, as soon as is practicable, audit the accounts
required by subsection (1) and shall submit a report thereon to the
Council.
(5) The Council shall within 3 months after the receipt by it of the
auditor's report in respect of its accounts for a financial year, or
within such further period as the Financial Secretary may allow, furnish-
(a) a report on the affairs of the Council for that year;
(b) a copy of its accounts therefor; and
(c) the auditor's report on the accounts, to the Governor who shall cause
the same to be tabled in the Legislative Council.
PART IV GENERAL
17. Council not servant or agent of Crown
The Council is not a servant or agent of the Crown and does not enjoy any
status, immunity or privilege of the Crown.
18. Governor may give directions
(1) The Governor may, if he considers that the public interest so
requires, give to the Council such directions as he thinks fit with
respect to the exercise and performance by the Council of its powers,
functions and duties under this Ordinance, either generally or in any
particular case.
(2) The Council shall comply with any direction given to it under
subsection (1).
19. Protection of members of Council and committees
(1) No member or employee of the Council or of any committee of the
Council shall be personally liable for any act done or default made-
(a) by the Council; or
(b) by any committee of the Council, acting in good faith in the course of
the operations of the Council or of the committee.
(2) The protection hereby conferred on members and employees of the
Council or of a committee in respect of any act or default shall not in
any way affect any liability of the Council for that act or default.
20. Prohibition of exploitation of the Council's name for advertisement
purposes
(1) No person shall, with a view to promoting or disparaging any
goods, services or immovable property or promoting the image of any
person, publish or cause to be published any advertisement which either
expressly or by implication makes reference to-
(a) the Council;
(b) any committee, member, agent or employee of the Council;
(c) the Council's publication or finding of tests or surveys conducted by
or on behalf of the Council; or
(d) any other information published by the Council, without written
consent of the Council.
(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is
liable to a fine of $ 100,000.
(3) For the purpose of subsection (1) "advertisement" may be constituted
by any words, whether written or spoken, or any picture, drawing, visual
image, figure or article-
(a) appearing in any publication; or
(b) brought to the notice of the public or any section of the public in
any other way. (Replaced 5 of 1992 s. 5)
21. Transitional provisions
(1) All property of whatever kind and whether movable or immovable vested
in or belonging to the Consumer Council existing at the commencement of
this Ordinance shall as from that date vest in or belong to that Council
in its corporate capacity without any further assurance.
(2) All obligations and liabilities of the said Consumer Council are as
from the commencement of this Ordinance the obligations and liabilities of
the Council in its corporate capacity.
(3) Where anything has been commenced by or under the authority of the
said Consumer Council before the commencement of this Ordinance such thing
may be carried on any completed by the Council in its corporate capacity.
(4) Every person who immediately before the commencement of this Ordinance
holds an appointment as Chairman, Executive Director or a member of the
said Consumer Council is, as from such commencement but subject to the
terms of his appointment, the Chairman, Executive Director, or a member of
the Council, as the case may be, for the purposes of this Ordinance.
(5) Notwithstanding the definition of "financial year" in section 2 the
period between the commencement of this Ordinance and 31 March 1978 shall
be deemed to be a financial year.
(6) No stamp duty shall be payable in respect of any transfer of property
under this section.
SCHEDULE
Asia Television Limited
China Light and Power Company, Limited
China Motor Bus Company, Limited
The Cross-Harbour Tunnel Company, Limited
Fish Marketing Organization
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited
The Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited
Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company, Limited
Hong Kong Housing Authority
Hong Kong Telecom International Limited
Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited
Hong Kong Tramways Limited
The Hong Kong Electric Company, Limited
Hospital Authority
Hutchvision Hong Kong Limited
Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited
Mass Transit Railway Corporation
Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited
New Hong Kong Tunnel Company Limited
New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited
The "Star" Ferry Company, Limited
Tate's Cairn Tunnel Company Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited
Vegetable Marketing Organization
(Replaced 5 of 1992s.)
d powers and functions
with the same effect as if it were the Council itself;
(b) shall be presumed to be acting in accordance with the terms of the
delegation in the absence of proof to the contrary;
(c) may regulate its own procedure.
9. Disclosure of member's interest
If a member of the Council, or of any committee of the Council, has a
direct or indirect commercial interest in any matter under discussion at a
meeting of the Council or of the committee, being an interest greater than
that which he has as a member of the general public, the following
provisions shall apply-
(a) he shall disclose the nature of his interest at the meeting;
(b) the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes;
(c) where the disclosure is made by the member presiding, he shall vacate
the chair during the discussion;
(d) the member (including one who has vacated the chair under paragraph
(c)) shall, if so required by the member presiding, withdraw from the
meeting during the discussion and shall not in any case, except as
otherwise determined by the member presiding, vote on any resolution
concerning the matter or be counted for the purpose of establishing the
existence of a quorum.
10. Appointment of staff and advisers
(1) Subject to subsection (4), the Council shall appoint a person to hold
the office of Chief Executive. (Amended 28 of 1985 s. 4)
(2) The Council may appoint such other employees as it thinks fit and
subject to subsection (4), determine all matters relating to their
remuneratior and terms and conditions of appointment or employment.
(3) The Council may engage the services of technical and professional
advisers in such manner and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
(4) The Council shall obtain the prior approval of the Governor to-
(a) any appointment proposed to be made under subsection (1) and the terms
and conditions thereof;
(b) the suspension or dismissal of the Chief Executive;
(c) the salary or salary scale (including allowances and other pecuniary
benefits) and conditions of employment applicable to the Chief Executive
and every other employee or class employee, and any variation thereof.
(Amended 28 of 1985 s. 4)
(5) No person shall be employed by the Council otherwise than on the salar
or salary scale or on the conditions of employment applicable to that pers
approved by the Governor under subsection (4).
11. Documents of Council
(1) The Council may make and execute all such documents as may expedient
for or conducive to the exercise and performance of its power functions
and duties.
(2) The fixing of the seal of the Council to any document
shall-
(a) be authorized by resolution of the Council; and
(b) be authenticated by the signatures of any 2 members authorize by
resolution of the Council, either generally or specially, to ao for that
purpose.
(3) Any document purporting to be duly executed under the seal of the
Council shall, unless the contrary is proved, be considered to be duly
executed.
(4) Any contract or instrument which if entered into or executed by a
person not being a body corporate would not be required to be in the form
of a deed may be entered into or executed on behalf of the Council by any
person generally or specially authorized by the Council for that purpose.
PART III FINANCIAL
12. Resources of Council
(1) The Governor may, out of money appropriated for the purpose by the
Legislative Council, authorize payment to the Consumer Council of such
amounts as he thinks fit.
(2) The resources of the Council shall consist
of-
(a) all money received by the Council pursuant to subsection (1);
(b) money paid to the Council by way of donations, fees, subscriptions,
rent and interest;
(c) all other money and property, including accumulations of income,
received by the Council for its purposes.
13. Borrowing powers
The Council may, with the approval of the Financial Secretary, borrow or
otherwise raise money and charge all or any part of its property as
security therefor.
14. Investment of funds
All money of the Council that is not immediately required shall be
invested-
(a) on fixed deposit in any bank or savings bank approved by the
Financial Secretary, either generally or in any particular case, for the
purpose; or
(b) in such other forms of investment as the Financial Secretary may
approve.
15. Estimates
The Council shall in each financial year adopt estimates of income and
expenditure for the ensuing financial year and, before a date to be
appointed by the Financial Secretary, send them to the Governor for his
approval together with a programme of its proposed activities for the
ensuing financial year.
16. Accounts, audit and annual report
(1) The Council shall keep proper accounts and proper records in relation
thereto and shall within 3 months after the expiry of a financial year, or
such further period as the Financial Secretary may allow, prepare a
statement of the accounts of the Council, which statement shall include an
income and expenditure account and a balance sheet.
(2) The Council
shall, subject to subsection (3), appoint an auditor, who shall be
entitled to have access at any time to all books of account, vouchers and
other financial records of the Council and to require such information and
explanations relating thereto as he thinks fit.
(3) The Council shall obtain the prior approval of the Financial Secretary
to any appointment proposed to be made under subsection (2).
(4) The auditor shall, as soon as is practicable, audit the accounts
required by subsection (1) and shall submit a report thereon to the
Council.
(5) The Council shall within 3 months after the receipt by it of the
auditor's report in respect of its accounts for a financial year, or
within such further period as the Financial Secretary may allow, furnish-
(a) a report on the affairs of the Council for that year;
(b) a copy of its accounts therefor; and
(c) the auditor's report on the accounts, to the Governor who shall cause
the same to be tabled in the Legislative Council.
PART IV GENERAL
17. Council not servant or agent of Crown
The Council is not a servant or agent of the Crown and does not enjoy any
status, immunity or privilege of the Crown.
18. Governor may give directions
(1) The Governor may, if he considers that the public interest so
requires, give to the Council such directions as he thinks fit with
respect to the exercise and performance by the Council of its powers,
functions and duties under this Ordinance, either generally or in any
particular case.
(2) The Council shall comply with any direction given to it under
subsection (1).
19. Protection of members of Council and committees
(1) No member or employee of the Council or of any committee of the
Council shall be personally liable for any act done or default made-
(a) by the Council; or
(b) by any committee of the Council, acting in good faith in the course of
the operations of the Council or of the committee.
(2) The protection hereby conferred on members and employees of the
Council or of a committee in respect of any act or default shall not in
any way affect any liability of the Council for that act or default.
20. Prohibition of exploitation of the Council's name for advertisement
purposes
(1) No person shall, with a view to promoting or disparaging any
goods, services or immovable property or promoting the image of any
person, publish or cause to be published any advertisement which either
expressly or by implication makes reference to-
(a) the Council;
(b) any committee, member, agent or employee of the Council;
(c) the Council's publication or finding of tests or surveys conducted by
or on behalf of the Council; or
(d) any other information published by the Council, without written
consent of the Council.
(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is
liable to a fine of $ 100,000.
(3) For the purpose of subsection (1) "advertisement" may be constituted
by any words, whether written or spoken, or any picture, drawing, visual
image, figure or article-
(a) appearing in any publication; or
(b) brought to the notice of the public or any section of the public in
any other way. (Replaced 5 of 1992 s. 5)
21. Transitional provisions
(1) All property of whatever kind and whether movable or immovable vested
in or belonging to the Consumer Council existing at the commencement of
this Ordinance shall as from that date vest in or belong to that Council
in its corporate capacity without any further assurance.
(2) All obligations and liabilities of the said Consumer Council are as
from the commencement of this Ordinance the obligations and liabilities of
the Council in its corporate capacity.
(3) Where anything has been commenced by or under the authority of the
said Consumer Council before the commencement of this Ordinance such thing
may be carried on any completed by the Council in its corporate capacity.
(4) Every person who immediately before the commencement of this Ordinance
holds an appointment as Chairman, Executive Director or a member of the
said Consumer Council is, as from such commencement but subject to the
terms of his appointment, the Chairman, Executive Director, or a member of
the Council, as the case may be, for the purposes of this Ordinance.
(5) Notwithstanding the definition of "financial year" in section 2 the
period between the commencement of this Ordinance and 31 March 1978 shall
be deemed to be a financial year.
(6) No stamp duty shall be payable in respect of any transfer of property
under this section.
SCHEDULE
Asia Television Limited
China Light and Power Company, Limited
China Motor Bus Company, Limited
The Cross-Harbour Tunnel Company, Limited
Fish Marketing Organization
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited
The Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited
Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company, Limited
Hong Kong Housing Authority
Hong Kong Telecom International Limited
Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited
Hong Kong Tramways Limited
The Hong Kong Electric Company, Limited
Hospital Authority
Hutchvision Hong Kong Limited
Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited
Mass Transit Railway Corporation
Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited
New Hong Kong Tunnel Company Limited
New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited
The "Star" Ferry Company, Limited
Tate's Cairn Tunnel Company Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited
Vegetable Marketing Organization
(Replaced 5 of 1992s.)
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