Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog urged to improve accuracy after bottled water report

Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has been urged to improve the accuracy of its findings after a study on bottled water drew backlash from mainland Chinese companies.

Legislators made the calls on Wednesday after the Consumer Council published a study earlier this week claiming two mainland bottled water brands contained dangerous substances at the maximum level of European Union quality standards.

Lawmaker Doreen Kong Yuk-foon told a radio show that the council should use fact-based terms to present their tested products, instead of just listing them as “good” or “bad”.

“This incident showed that there is room for improvement in public reporting, which may especially impact minority stakeholders of the affected companies,” Kong said.

She said she hoped the council would handle the issue with care.

Kong added the findings had intensified public concerns about food safety after reports emerged of tanker trucks that transported fuel being used to carry cooking oil on the mainland.