The Consumer Council’s Consumer Rights Reporting Awards (CRRA) has, over the past 25 years, honoured journalists who have demonstrated sustained commitment to reporting on consumer rights issues. As an annual grand event in the media industry, this year’s CRRA received 466 entries, covering a wide range of topics from daily necessities to emerging consumption trends, extending into the realms of cross-boundary and digital consumption which transcend physical confines. The entries highlight how the media keeps pace with market developments while fulfilling its role in monitoring and advocacy, as well as the CRRA’s significant and proactive role in encouraging the media to promote consumer rights.
The Presentation Ceremony, held today (4 November 2025), was officiated by Dr Bernard Chan Pak-li, Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR Government, and Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council. A total of 39 awards across 9 categories were presented, including 7 Gold Awards, 7 Silver Awards, 7 Bronze Awards, 7 Merit Awards, 3 Best Audience Engagement Awards, 1 Best Presentation Award, 1 Excellence Award, 5 Topical Reporting Awards, and the prestigious Grand Award of the Year. This year’s CRRA continued to receive strong support from the media, with 35 news organisations, social media platforms and higher education institutions participating. The vibrant ceremony was attended by around 160 journalists, industry leaders and academics, coming together to celebrate the achievements and share in the joy of the awardees.
Since its inception, the CRRA has witnessed the transformation of Hong Kong’s consumer landscape and modes of information dissemination over the past quarter-century. Apart from consumption topics that permeate every aspect of daily life, this year’s entries delved into issues such as cross-boundary healthcare, agencies providing fraudulent academic qualifications, online shopping traps, e-payment risks, travel safety, property rental disputes, and gerontechnology. In response to the growing prevalence of e-commerce and digital platforms, the Council designated “Consumer Rights Beyond Boundaries” as the theme of the 2024 Topical Reporting Award, aiming to raise public awareness of cross-boundary consumption, digital transactions, and new forms of scams. By spotlighting these issues, the theme helped the public better recognise potential pitfalls and make informed decisions in a borderless consumer environment. Many entries echoed this focus and examined the risks associated with virtual assets, cross-boundary online shopping, and the platform economy, revealing the hidden challenges and traps of emerging consumption models. These reports reaffirm the indispensable role of professional journalism in protecting consumer rights and guiding public discourse.
In his welcome speech, Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council, remarked, “As the CRRA enters its 25th year, it stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts between the Council and the media in advancing consumer rights. Over the past year, Hong Kong’s marketplace has evolved rapidly, with cross-boundary consumption becoming the norm and digital transactions and AI applications increasingly prevalent. Journalists, through undercover reporting, data analysis and field investigations, have dissected complex issues and delivered accurate information to the public, helping consumers avoid traps and make informed decisions. This is precisely the driving force behind the protection of consumer interests. The Council will continue to serve as the public’s strongest support, working in synergy with the media to foster a fair and transparent marketplace, and to achieve ‘Smart Consumption, Transparent Information’.”
The Guest of Honour Dr Bernard Chan Pak-li, Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, stated in his speech, “To maximise the impact of the Government and the Consumer Council’s efforts in promoting consumer rights, the role of our media friends is vital. Through professional and objective reporting, members of the media explore consumer-related issues in depth — not only helping the public become savvier and better informed, but also raising self-protection awareness. This plays a crucial role in strengthening public confidence in the marketplace.”
This year’s CRRA saw intense competition. HK01’s reportFraudulent Academic Qualifications and Top Talent Pass – A Deep Dive into Black Market Intermediaries (〈假學歷、高才通簽證造假黑中介調查〉) claimed 3 major accolades, winning the Gold Award for Investigative Reporting, the Topical Reporting Award, and the prestigious Grand Award of the Year, selected by the professional adjudicator panel from among all Gold Award winners. The report exposed illegal practices by intermediaries offering education and visa services, including forged academic qualifications and proxy test-taking. It revealed how, under consumption models “beyond boundaries”, consumers may unknowingly fall foul of the law.
The Feature Writing Gold Award went to Wen Wei Po’sSeeking Medical Treatment Across Boundaries (〈跨境求醫系列〉). The report offered an in-depth examination of the growing trend of Hong Kong residents seeking medical care in the Mainland, driven by high drug costs and long approval processes in Hong Kong’s healthcare system. Featuring the experiences of patients with rare disease and cancer as examples, the series highlighted the challenges of cross-boundary healthcare and sparked public discussion on the need to reform drug subsidy policies.
The Audio Reporting Gold Award was awarded to RTHK’s Same Room, Different Prices for Booking Platforms Web and App Prices Differed by 7%(〈訂房平台同房不同價 網頁版與應用程式價錢相差7%〉). Through conducting trials, the reporters revealed how booking platforms apply dynamic pricing based on users’ digital footprints. The findings served as a timely reminder for consumers to compare prices carefully.
The Video Reporting Gold Award (Short Clip) went to Phoenix TV’s The Price of Beauty(〈美麗代價〉). The report exposed malpractices in the medical beauty market, including unlicensed injection procedures and the potential risks associated with purchasing pharmaceutical products online.
TVB’s Heading North for Medical Help (〈北上求「醫」〉) won the Video Reporting Gold Award (Long Clip). The report explored the risks and considerations faced by Hong Kong people seeking healthcare services across the boundary, and compared the differences between public and private medical systems in the Mainland, providing consumers with practical information.
Consolidating the scores from the adjudication panel and public voting, Ming Pao’s Racing North for Strawberries(〈北上搶草莓〉) won the News Photography Gold Award. The entry captured an authentic moment amidst the cross-boundary consumption boom, presenting the economic and cultural interactions behind this social phenomenon.
In the Tertiary Student Journalism Award, which also involved public voting, the Gold Award was presented to U-Beat Magazine for its reportMillion-Dollar Fraudulent Academic Qualification Scam Agents Offer One-Stop Admission Services (〈百萬天價假學歷 中介保錄一條龍〉). The report exposed how intermediaries in the Mainland charge exorbitant fees in exchange for guaranteed university admission, and traced the operations of the related industry chain, warning students and parents to stay alert to traps in the education market.
In the Best Use of Social Platform in Consumer Advocacy category, multiple media outlets demonstrated the interactive strengths of social platforms by presenting consumer information in innovative, accessible and relatable formats. HK01 News and U Food won the Best Audience Engagement Award for 3 reports focusing on entertainment consumption and food safety respectively. NutriLion’s Consumer Council Test｜Over Half of 30 Lipsticks Contain Allergenic Heavy Metals – 5 Found with Suspected Carcinogens (Full List Included)(〈消委會評測｜30款唇膏逾半含可致敏重金屬 5款檢出懷疑致癌物（附詳細名單）〉) stood out with its visually engaging design, earning both the Best Presentation Award and the highest honour in the category, the Excellence Award, showcasing the potential and influence of social platforms in advancing consumer rights.
This year’s adjudication panel comprised 16 distinguished individuals from various professional organisations and journalism academia, who joined the Chairman, Members and management members of the Consumer Council in undertaking the adjudicating role. The Council also extends its sincere gratitude to 5 seasoned professionals from the media and corporate communications sectors for their contributions to the preliminary round of review of entries.
To address the profound transformation brought about by population ageing and the rise of the silver economy, the Council announced the topic for the 2025 Topical Reporting Award earlier this year as “Protecting the Consumer Rights of the Silver Generation”. The theme aims to draw society’s attention to consumer protection for the elderly in areas such as healthcare, retirement living and gerontechnology and encourages the media to continue its role in monitoring and educating the public. The CRRA will continue to evolve with the times, working hand in hand with journalists to advance consumer rights.
Image Captions
- Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council, delivers the welcome speech at the 25th Consumer Rights Reporting Awards Presentation Ceremony, reflecting on the development of the Awards over the past 25 years and recognising the media’s vital role in safeguarding consumer rights.
- Dr Bernard Chan Pak-li, Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, delivers the opening remarks.
- Guest of Honour Dr Bernard Chan Pak-li, Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council, and Dr Alaina Shum Jiu-fai, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council.
- The Grand Awardof the Year was presented to HK01 for its report Fraudulent Academic Qualifications and Top Talent Pass – A Deep Dive into Black Market Intermediaries (〈假學歷、高才通簽證造假黑中介調查〉). The reporter received the award from Dr Bernard Chan Pak-li, Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, and Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council. The report also won the Gold Award for Investigative Reporting and the Topical Reporting Award.
- First-time entrant NutriLion won the highest honour in the Best Use of Social Platform in Consumer Advocacy category — the Excellence Award— as well as the Best Presentation Award for its post Consumer Council Test｜Over Half of 30 Lipsticks Contain Allergenic Heavy Metals – 5 Found with Suspected Carcinogens (Full List Included)(〈消委會評測｜30款唇膏逾半含可致敏重金屬 5款檢出懷疑致癌物（附詳細名單）〉). The reporter received the awards from Dr Alaina Shum Jiu-fai, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council, and Ms Angelina Kwan Yuen-yee, Director of Broadcasting.
- Group photo of the Guest of Honour, award presenters, Consumer Council representatives and adjudication panel members, marking the success of the 25th CRRA.
- Group photo of all guests and awardees, capturing the vibrant atmosphere and showcasing the joint efforts of the media and the Consumer Council in protecting consumer rights.
