I am very pleased that the Consumer Council has undertaken a weekly price survey. We should encourage it to continue with its efforts. This price-watch programme aims to provide information for consumers so that they can make informed decisions when they are shopping at stores. I am pleased that compared with previous price surveys, the latest price-watch programme will cover more consumer goods and the surveys will be more frequent. Also, this new programme will name retailers. It is clear that the council's new strategy is a improvement on previous efforts to monitor retailers. I fully agree with your editorial ('Transparency the key to fair pricing', August 28). During a period of inflation, price-watch programmes are crucial for consumers. They can help ensure fair prices and an efficient market. They can provide timely and comprehensive information to the public. However, although I welcome the council's scheme, there is room for improvement. The Chinese-language survey will be updated every week and the council will consider an English version if there is a need for it. Hong Kong is an international city and there are many residents who are not Chinese. However, as shoppers, they can also benefit from getting timely, comprehensive and accurate information about prices of items. Therefore, I think there must be an English-language version of the survey. Also, the survey is only going to be updated every week on the council's website. I believe most housewives in Hong Kong probably do not use computers that often, which means it will be difficult for them to get the necessary information. I think the council should look into ways of trying to disseminate this information through the mass media, through newspapers, television and the radio. I also think the government could help by offering more financial support to the council. Charlie Chan Wing-tai , Sha Tin
