https://www.scmp.com/rss/318767/feed Gilly Wong is the chief executive of Consumer Council in Hong Kong, and the vice-president of Consumers International, a federation of consumer organisations worldwide with over 240 members from 120 countries. She is active in public service, and current represents the council on many public bodies including the Competition Commission's Competition Policy Advisory Group and the Committee on Reduction of Salt and Sugar in Food. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com In the digital age, the economy is part of a world of big data. One example is the government’s smart city blueprint, its five-year development plan for Hong Kong’s future, which includes the introduction of faster payment systems and an electronic ID for all residents. The internet is all pervasive in modern life. But while consumers take delight in convenience, they must safeguard personal information to keep it out of the hands of merchants and third parties who will use them for market... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2137296/consumers-need-updated-regulation-protect-their-personal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2137296/consumers-need-updated-regulation-protect-their-personal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Mar 2018 07:19:25 +0000 The Consumer Council proposal to the government to liberalise car-hailing services in Hong Kong through a progressive approach, unveiled in its recent report on the car transport service market, has attracted much public attention and sparked a debate in the community. Not unexpectedly, it has drawn some stiff opposition from the taxi industry. The need for taxi service improvements has reached a critical point, requiring an urgent solution. The council’s proposal to introduce competition into... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2131585/hong-kongs-taxi-trade-must-face-competition-and-technology?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2131585/hong-kongs-taxi-trade-must-face-competition-and-technology?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Feb 2018 01:55:27 +0000 The most intimate moments mothers share with their newborn have to be the time they spend breastfeeding. Sadly, for many years, the breastfeeding rate in Hong Kong has been dismayingly low. According to a Department of Health survey, in 2012, only 19 per cent of babies were breastfed up to four months old. In 2014, that figure increased slightly, to 27 per cent. Understandably, our living environment and the mother’s health are crucial factors in considering breastfeeding. But misconceptions... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2095601/how-debunking-myths-about-infant-formula-can-boost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2095601/how-debunking-myths-about-infant-formula-can-boost?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 May 2017 09:05:15 +0000 Many consumers buy electric vehicles because they want to reduce the environmental impact of their personal transport. Public transport should be the preferred option. It is fast, environmentally friendly and good value for money. But consumers sometimes also need to use taxis and own their own car. According to government data, transport accounts for 17 per cent of Hong Kong’s carbon dioxide emissions, mainly caused by road vehicles burning fuel. Road transport is also a major source of local... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2004126/can-electric-vehicles-ever-really-meet-hong-kongs-transport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2004126/can-electric-vehicles-ever-really-meet-hong-kongs-transport?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Aug 2016 08:34:51 +0000 More renewables in Hong Kong - the idea sounds a bit implausible, doesn't it? Hong Kong is a small, densely populated territory with a large electricity habit. Renewables suck in subsidies, take up space and don't produce very much electricity - and when they do, it's at unpredictable times. But, is it really such a bad idea? In last year's fuel-mix consultation, the government estimated that the price of electricity in Hong Kong was set to almost double, as we invest in a gas generation plant,... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1795166/hong-kong-needs-switch-renewable-energy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1795166/hong-kong-needs-switch-renewable-energy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2015 09:19:14 +0000 As responsible consumers, Hong Kong people understand that we all have to make small changes in our consumer decisions to allow society to continue consuming goods not just for now, but forever. This is the core idea behind the Consumer Council's strategic direction advocating sustainable consumption. We therefore support the thinking behind the plastic bag levy and hope for its success. Reducing our use of plastic bags won't be the only solution to saving the world, but it is a step in the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1768681/responsible-consumers-must-back-plastic-bag-levy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1768681/responsible-consumers-must-back-plastic-bag-levy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2015 21:00:25 +0000