THE Consumer Council will be given the power to investigate complaints against broadcasters, transport companies and public utilities under new powers agreed yesterday by the Executive Council. The institutions are protected under present laws, which prevent the consumer watchdog investigating 25 organisations. The council will also be able to help deal with disputes arising from complaints against the orh any settlement. Other organisations on the list are statutory bodies such as the Hospital Authority. The Government had stopped adding organisations to the list in the 1980s and had found it difficult to justify its existence, said Principal Assistant Secretary for Trade and Industry Au King-chi. ''The amendment will free the Consumer Council from any legal constraint in handling consumer complaints and conducting research projects concerning the bodies in the schedule,'' she said. The change was opposed by TVB, ATV, Metro Broadcast and Commercial Radio. The Hospital Authority expressed reservation, and HutchVision did not respond. Professor Chen said the council had been hesitant to take up complaints which were marginally connected with the 25 organisations. Miss Au admitted such complaints had not been dealt with properly because of the legal constraints. Examples were complaints about communal antenna installation or contents of concerts held by radio or TV stations. Another example was canteens and shops run under the auspices of the Hospital Authority. ''As before, when we receive complaints about these 25 organisations, we will continue to refer the complaints to the respective organisations. ''But in the case of unsatisfactory settlement of the complaints, the Consumer Council after the amendment will be able to participate in the resolution and in the settlement of dispute,'' Professor Chen said. The Consumer Council might be invited by the organisations to help in dispute settlement since it would be in a better position to explain things to consumers, he added. Professor Chen admitted the council would have no power to enforce decisions if its investigation differed from those of the organisation. He also said the council would not intervene in matters such as fare increases subject to monitoring by specific regulatory arrangements. ganisations. However, chairman Professor Edward Chen Kwan-yiu said he would only take action if consumers were dissatisfied wit
