Consumer Council considering ‘Online Certified Shops’ to be launched next year
1,152 ‘Adherents’ passed the annual assessment of Consumer Council and are awarded the 2017 ‘Certified Shop’ emblem; 12 of them are awarded ‘Class A Certified Shops’. The Council is considering the launch of ‘Online Certified Shops’ next year due to the rapid growth of online shopping of consumers. The annual ‘Certified Shops’ award ceremony is held by the Council, 12 ‘Class A Certified Shops’ were awarded, and over 1,000 ‘Adherents’ are entitled to the 2017 ‘Certified Shop’ emblem; the Council also awards certificates to consultants of ‘Consumer Arbitration Centre’. Twenty percent more shops are graded A to B Among those ‘Adherents’ that pass the annual assessment, 863 shops are graded A to B grades, which is 18 percent more than last year. The ‘key question’ system adopted last year, which include compulsory price labeling, and no disclaimer clause allowed, etc. reviews that it encourages shops to make improvement in all areas. Over 300 ‘Adherents’ failed in the first phase of the annual assessment, but half of them adopt measures to improve after suggestions and guidance were given by the Council. The Council will continue to improve its evaluation scheme and support ‘Certified Shops’ to guarantee that consumer rights are secured under the ‘Certified Shops’ mechanism. ‘Online Certified Shops’ mechanism to be launched next year Consumer Council states that online shopping is trending to become an important kind of consumption and it is concerned about the potential risks that consumers may face when shopping online. In order to boost consumers’ confidence in online shopping and to safeguard consumer rights in advance, an ‘Online Certified Shop’ mechanism that encourages existing online shops to join, as well as current ‘Certified Shops’ to expand their businesses online is being considered and expected to launch in 2017. The Council believes that the mechanism will enhance consumers’ confidence in both offline and online shops, and encourages more businesses for them. 56 consultants are awarded certificates 53 representatives from different organizations are also awarded certificates for their continuous support as consultants of the ‘Consumer Arbitration Centre’ during the award ceremony. Guests attending the annual ceremony include Arbitration Judge of Consumer Arbitration Centre, Kan Cheng Ha, member of the National People’s Congress and Executive President of China Chamber of Tourism, Wang Mingang, Vice President of China Chamber of Tourism, Hao Xukuan, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Consumer Council, Gilly Wong Fung-han, and members of the General Committee of Macao Consumer Council.