The Consumer Council’s 23rd Consumer Rights Reporting Awards (CRRA) continues to celebrate the efforts of journalists who persevered in the fight for consumer interests in bringing about a wide range of consumer news stories to raise public awareness of consumer rights and improve self-protection. This year’s CRRA maintains overwhelming support from the media and once again set a new record high, with a total of 373 entries from 42 news organisations, social media platforms, and local colleges and universities, including 10 media organisations participating for the first time.
At the CRRA Presentation Ceremony today (9 November 2023), following addresses by The Honourable Algernon Yau Ying-wah, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR Government, and Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council, a total of 37 awards in 9 categories were presented, including 7 Gold Awards, 8 Silver Awards, 7 Bronze Awards, 6 Merit Awards, 3 Best Audience Engagement Awards, 1 Best Presentation Award, 1 Grand Prize, 3 Topical Reporting Awards, and the prestigious Grand Award. Over the years, the CRRA Presentation Ceremony has always been one of the most significant annual events among local journalists. This year, over 160 media organisations management members, journalists, awardees, and journalism academics gathered together to acclaim awardees and exchange insights in the liveliest and most touching atmosphere.
For over two decades, the Council has been working hand in hand with journalists in promoting consumer rights through CRRA, while simultaneously documenting the development of the society and changes in the media landscape. This year's entries covered a wide range of topics which included shopping, medication, food, housing, and environmental protection, witnessing the shift in the media’s focus to wider spectrum of the society after COVID, providing audience with more diversified consumer news. At the same time, online shopping, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence have permeated our daily lives, and many entries pored over related issues, conducive to improving public awareness of new consumption patterns.
Welcoming guests and awardees, Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council, said, “The Consumer Council conducts frequent research and advocacy on diverse issues to safeguard the rights of consumers and better their self-protection abilities. To this goal it is essential that consumers are kept abreast of the latest consumer news and information, which is very versatile and relies on the media’s support and efforts. I am confident that the collaborative synergy between the Consumer Council and media organisations denotes ‘1+1 greater than 2’, creating a better and more protected environment for consumers.”
The Guest of Honour, The Honourable Algernon Yau Ying-wah, said “The Consumer Council has consistently kept abreast of market developments and provided consumers with timely information through product testing, service trials, market surveys and studies, so as to help consumers make informed choices. At the same time, media partners have actively investigated consumption-related issues through professional and impartial reporting, while extensively covering consumption information from the Council’s test, survey, and research results. The media industry’s support complements our efforts in promoting consumer rights, improving the effectiveness of information dissemination, in turn empowering the public and tourists to protect themselves and become smart consumers.”
The Grand Award, selected among the Gold Awards in each category, recognises the most impactful journalistic endeavour of the year. After rigorous evaluation and voting by the adjudication panel, “Smart & Easy Online Shopping” (網購智容易) in the Feature Writing Award category won this year’s Grand Award, with a trophy and a cash prize of HK$20,000 awarded to Ta Kung Pao’s reporters Mandy Tsang, Ng Hin-pui and Shao Ying. As for the Topical Reporting Award, introduced last year and presented for the first time this year, the theme was “Protecting Consumers’ Interests in E-commerce”. The Award was won by the news video production “A Closer Look: Internet Scams Series” (時事多面睇﹕網騙系列), and TVB reporters Alice Tse and Leung Sze-hang were presented with a trophy and a cash prize of HK$20,000.
Feature Writing Award
This year’s Feature Writing Award went to “Smart & Easy Online Shopping” (網購智容易). The series highlighted that even though application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming more and more prevalent in numerous industries, many consumers still have limited knowledge and realisation that AI is covertly affecting their shopping decisions, which may be detrimental to consumer rights. Through examination of the public’s online shopping experience and experts’ analysis, the reports explored the development and regulation of AI in e-commerce.
Investigative Reporting Award
The Gold Award for Investigative Reporting Award went to “Quarantine Hotel Flipping Series” (檢疫酒店炒賣系列). In late June 2022, noting some online speculations on quarantine hotel rooms, the reporter followed up through various channels, including making enquiries with online shopping platforms posing as a customer, interviewing representatives of the industry and affected citizens, etc. A few days after the report was published presenting the phenomenon and impacts of speculation from diverse perspectives, the Government announced 3 measures to prevent speculation on quarantine hotel rooms.
Audio Reporting Award
The entry “Popular ‘Miracle Drug’ Claimed Anti-cancer and Anti-aging, but Experts Broke Anti-aging Myth by Querying Lack of Evidence” (熱賣逆齡『神藥』稱抗癌防新冠 專家質疑欠證據破不老傳說) took this year’s Gold. In recent years, a health product called NMN boasts of its age-defying effects, but some reported soaring liver enzyme AST (SGOT) after taking the product. Meanwhile, some products claimed certification by international organisations such as the US FDA, yet pharmacists said these might be misleading. The reporter examined the effectiveness of these products and issues about certification claims in a 2-episode series.
Video Reporting Award (Short Clip & Long Clip)
This year’s Video Reporting (Short Clip) Gold went to “Fact Check: 13 Rapid Antigen Tests In Market Proclaimed EU-certification but Only 8 On List”(Fact Check 市售13款自稱歐盟認證快測 得8款上榜). The reporter collected numerous Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) available in the market and cross-checked several approved lists suggested by the government to sort out certified products, and compared results of sensitivity tests conducted independently by the European Union (EU), assisting consumers to make smart and rational choices of good performing RATs instead of being influenced by “herd mentality”.
The Video Reporting (Long Clip) Gold Award was taken by the same reporter with “Hong Kong People’s Property Purchase in Thailand Suspected to Become Unfinished Developments with Construction Not Commencing After Payment And Promised Rental Return Owed” (港人泰國置業疑陷『爛尾樓』購樓花至今未動工 拖欠租金回報). The reporter travelled all the way to Thailand and demonstrated the plight of overseas property buyers and the difficulties encountered in recovering their investments, reminding consumers of the risks of “buying a pig in a poke”, while at the same time reflecting on the need for more stringent regulations on the sale of overseas flats to offer more comprehensive protection.
News Photography Award
Consolidating the respective scores from the adjudication panel and public voting results, the News Photography Gold Award was given to “Self-brought Chaos” (自亂陣腳). Taken during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Hong Kong, online rumours of the government’s intention to impose a lockdown triggered panic buying at supermarkets in many districts. This photo was stark reminder to consumers not to believe any unsubstantiated messages on the Internet to avoid self-brought chaos.
Tertiary Student Journalism Award
After consolidating scores from adjudicators and public voting, the award went to “Smart Recycling Equipment – Reduce or Increase Waste?”(智能環保機 — 減廢定浪費？). In line with the development of a “Smart City”, the Government and related organisations have set up a number of smart recycling equipment to promote waste reduction in Hong Kong, including reverse vending machines (RVMs) and food waste collection bins. The reporter went on-site to explore the use and effectiveness of these smart recycling equipment.
Best Use of Social Platform in Consumer Advocacy
After combining scores for audience engagement and that from the adjudicators, “A Complete Guide to Proper Use of Lip Balm! 6 Recommendations Certified by the Consumer Council!” (潤唇膏正確用法全攻略！6款消委會認證安全產品推薦！) won the Excellence Award. The richly informative animated short clips using data from the Council’s monthly CHOICE Magazine has successfully attracted avid viewership.
A prestigious annual award in the industry, the CRRA is organised by the Consumer Council with the aim to recognise excellence in reporting issues relating to consumer rights. This year’s adjudication panel comprises 19 renowned representatives from various professional organisations and journalism academia, alongside the Chairman, Members and management members of the Council. The CRRA was revamped in 2022 with the introduction of the Social Platforms category and the Topical Reporting Award, and the introduction of public voting in 2 of the categories, both very well-received. This year's CRRA has adopted suggestions from adjudicators to further refine the scoring criteria and methodology, selecting the best entries in a more objective and fairer manner. The CRRA will continue to keep abreast of the times and work with the media to protect consumer rights. (Please refer to the appendix below for background details of CRRA and the list of adjudication panel members.)
Image captions
- Welcome speech by Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council
- Speech by Guest of Honour, the Honourable Algernon Yau Ying-wah, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.
- The Honourable Algernon Yau Ying-wah, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, viewing exhibit of winning entries accompanied by Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council, Mr Tony Pang Chor-fu, Vice-Chairman of the Consumer Council and Ms Gilly Wong Fung-han, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council.
- The Grand Award was taken by Feature Writing Award winner “Smart & Easy Online Shopping” (網購智容易) , and the Tai Kung Pao team receives the trophy from Mr Raymond Sy Kim-cheung Deputy Director of Broadcasting of Radio Television Hong Kong, and Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council.
- The Topical Reporting Award, presented for the first-time ever, was won by an entry in the Video Reporting (Long Clip) category “A Closer Look: Internet Scams Series” (時事多面睇﹕網騙系列). The producing TVB reporting crew receives the trophy from Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council and Mr Raymond Sy Kim-cheung Deputy Director of Broadcasting of Radio Television Hong Kong.
- The Guest of Honour, award presenters, Consumer Council representatives, and the adjudication panel.
- Guests and awardees of the 23rd CRRA.
