The Consumer Council’s Consumer Rights Reporting Awards (CRRA) marks its 26th edition this year. Since its inception, the CRRA has been committed to recognising journalists whose professional reporting, in-depth investigations and sustained coverage strengthen public understanding of consumer rights and consumers’ self-protection capability, reveal consumption issues and safeguard consumer interests. This year’s CRRA received 365 entries covering a wide range of topics, including private healthcare services, education and training, cross-boundary consumption, online shopping platforms, transport services, food safety and the silver economy. The entries reflect the media’s close attention to changes in consumption patterns and the marketplace, as well as its efforts to respond to public expectations for consumer protection through professional journalism.
The CRRA Presentation Ceremony, held today (28 October 2026), was officiated by Ms Angela Lee Chung-yan, Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, and Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council. This year’s ceremony continued to receive strong support from the media, bringing together around 130 journalists, media executives, awardees, journalism students and academics, and industry leaders to celebrate the media’s outstanding achievements in safeguarding consumer rights.
To keep pace with developments in the media industry and trends in consumer rights reporting, changes have been made to some of the award categories this year, with “The 26th CRRA Top Honour” recognising the most outstanding entry of the year. To foster greater public engagement, the 5 finalists for both the “News Photography Award” and the “Tertiary Student Journalism Award” were again put to a public vote.
In his welcome speech, Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council, remarked, “Many of this year’s award-winning entries focused on issues of direct relevance to the public, including healthcare services, cross-boundary consumption and the silver economy. These reports reflect the continuous evolution of the consumer market and the increasing complexity of the challenges facing consumer protection. Consumers need more reliable information to make informed choices. Through in-depth investigations and sustained coverage, journalists not only identify problems but also help raise public awareness and strengthen the consumer protection framework. The Council is grateful to the media for working alongside us over the years to promote consumer education and foster a fairer and more transparent marketplace.”
Guest of Honour Ms Angela Lee Chung-yan stated, “The award-winning entries covered a diverse range of topics, closely reflecting current consumption trends and the ever-changing market environment. They provided timely information for consumers, while enabling businesses to better understand consumer concerns and continuously enhance the quality of products and services. The professional and objective reporting of media practitioners has supported the Government and the Consumer Council in promoting consumer protection.”
The “CRRA Top Honour” is the highest accolade of the CRRA. It recognises a journalistic work that has made an outstanding contribution to safeguarding consumer rights, promoting market transparency and advancing the public’s right to know. Only entries that have won a Gold Award in their respective categories are eligible for further assessment by the adjudication panel, which selects the Top Honour winner from among the Gold Award recipients, making the competition particularly intense.
The 26th CRRA Top Honour was awarded to HK01 for its Video Reporting Gold Award (Long Clip) entry, “Hong Kong Pharmacy” Suspected of Using False Visuals and Fabricated History to Sell Mainland-made Medicine Posing as a Hong Kong Brand – 200 Companies with Similar Names Registered (「香港大藥房」疑假相假歷史扮港產賣內地藥 200間似名公司註冊). Through an in-depth investigation, the report exposed traders suspected of using fabricated brand stories and packaging to present themselves as a “century-old Hong Kong brand”. It also traced the registration of numerous companies with similar names and examined consumer concerns relating to product origins, brand authenticity and market information transparency.
The Topical Reporting Award encourages the media to examine in depth a key annual topic closely related to consumer rights. The topic for 2025 was “Protecting the Consumer Rights of the Silver Generation”, encouraging journalists to focus on consumer protection issues faced by the elderly in areas such as healthcare, retirement living and cross-boundary elderly care in the context of an ageing population.
2025’s Topical Reporting Award was presented to TVB Group Limited for its entry News Magazine: “Retiring in the Mainland?” (新聞透視《北上安老？》). Through its in-depth analysis of the healthcare support, residential care services and cross-boundary support arrangements involved in retiring in the Mainland, the report offered valuable insights into the choices facing older people and their families. Its consumer-focused perspective highlighted the protection issues arising from elderly care decisions and addressed public concern about the silver economy and cross-boundary elderly care.
Ming Pao swept the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards for Written Journalism with in-depth reports focusing on important consumer issues, including healthcare and education services. Its Gold Award-winning entry, Private Healthcare Fee Transparency Series (〈私營醫費透明度系列〉), investigated the disclosure of information on private healthcare charges and patients’ right to know, and raised public awareness of consumer protection concerning healthcare services.
Award-winning entries in the Audio Reporting Award category covered consumer issues closely related to daily life, including healthcare services, e-hailing services and food labelling. RTHK received the Gold Award for Unregistered Radiographers Suspected of Conducting Ultrasound Breast Examinations – Department of Health: Unlawful Practice (〈懷疑有非註冊放射技師操作超聲波乳房檢查 衞生署：屬違法行為〉). The report revealed that some medical examination services might involve issues concerning professional qualifications, reminding consumers to pay attention to the quality of healthcare services and their own rights.
The Gold Award for Video Reporting (Short Clip) was presented to TVB Limited for Mainland Companies Found Selling Claimed Hong Kong Brands Such as “Ganglong Bandao” Potentially Misleading Consumers (〈本台發現內地公司出售聲稱香港品牌「港龍半島」等 涉誤導消費者〉). The report exposed companies marketing products as “Hong Kong brands” even though the products were not manufactured in Hong Kong, prompting public discussion and concern over product-origin labelling.
Award-winning entries in the Investigative Reporting Award category focused on emerging forms of consumption that have attracted growing attention in recent years. The Gold Award was presented to Ming Pao for its Investigation Series on Text-based Medical Diagnoses by Doctors on Telehealth Platforms (〈網上平台醫生文字診斷調查系列〉). The series exposed the consumer issues and risks associated with telehealth platforms offering text-based consultations and prescriptions, attracting widespread public attention.
Following the public vote, Ming Pao also received the News Photography Gold Award for Toilet Right Behind the Door (〈開門即廁〉). The striking news photograph depicted the housing conditions faced by grassroots families, highlighting issues concerning living conditions and quality of life.
The Tertiary Student Journalism Gold Award was presented to San Po Yan for Alternative “God of Medicine” – Why Are Life-saving Drugs Smuggled into the Mainland? (〈另類「藥神」——救命藥為何會違規進入內地？〉). Through its perceptive examination of the risks and challenges faced by patients in the cross-boundary movement and purchase of medicines, the report demonstrated the new generation of journalists’ sharp insight into consumer rights issues.
In response to trends in online media development, the judging criteria for this year’s Best Use of Social Media in Consumer Advocacy Award were adjusted with greater emphasis on the platform’s overall impact and effectiveness in advocating consumer rights throughout the year. HK01 News received the Gold Award for entries covering a diverse range of topics, including product testing, online shopping risks, children’s products and everyday consumer information. Its entries stood out for presenting complex consumer information in a concise and accessible manner, supported by effective use of graphics and well-organised data that enabled the public to grasp the key messages at a glance.
This year’s 18-member adjudication panel comprised distinguished individuals from professional organisations, journalism academia, the media and corporate communications, as well as the Chairman, Members and management of the Consumer Council. The Council extends its sincere gratitude to all adjudicators.
Earlier this year, the Council announced “Confidence and Protection in Cross-Border Consumption” as the topic for the 27th CRRA’s Topical Reporting Award. The media is encouraged to examine the topic in depth through professional reporting and submit relevant entries during the 2027 application period.
As cross-boundary online shopping, spending in the Mainland, cross-boundary healthcare and overseas travel become increasingly common, differences among countries or regions in consumer legislation, complaint-handling mechanisms and product safety standards pose new challenges to the protection of consumer rights. Strengthening protection for cross-boundary transactions and enhancing consumer confidence will therefore remain key issues requiring sustained attention.
The Council will continue to work hand in hand with the media to promote a fair, transparent and sustainable consumer environment, empowering consumers to make smarter choices in a rapidly changing marketplace.
Image captions
- Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council, delivers the welcome speech at the 26th Consumer Rights Reporting Awards Presentation Ceremony. He commends the media for enhancing public understanding of consumer rights through professional reporting and in-depth, sustained coverage over the years, and for helping foster a fairer and more transparent marketplace.
- In her remarks, Guest of Honour Ms Angela Lee Chung-yan, Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, affirmed the media’s important role in promoting consumer protection and encouraged the journalism sector to continue empowering consumers to make informed choices through professional and objective reporting.
- Guest of Honour Ms Angela Lee Chung-yan, Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council, and Dr Alaina Shum, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council, pose for a photograph at the 26th Consumer Rights Reporting Awards Presentation Ceremony, which recognises journalists’ professional contributions to safeguarding consumer rights.
- “The 26th CRRA Top Honour” was presented to HK01 for its entry“Hong Kong Pharmacy” Suspected of Using False Visuals and Fabricated History to Sell Mainland-made Medicine Posing as a Hong Kong Brand – 200 Companies with Similar Names Registered (〈「香港大藥房」疑假相假歷史扮港產賣內地藥 200間似名公司註冊〉). The awardee received the award from Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council. The entry also received the Video Reporting Gold Award (Long Clip) for its in-depth examination of important issues concerning market information transparency and consumers’ right to know.
- The “Topical Reporting Award” was presented to TVB Limited for its entry News Magazine:“Retiring in the Mainland?” (〈新聞透視《北上安老？》〉). Centred on the 2025 topic “Protecting the Consumer Rights of the Silver Generation”, the report examined cross-boundary elderly care, supporting healthcare services and consumer protection. The reporter received the award from Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing, Chairman of the Consumer Council.
- Ming Pao achieved outstanding results in this year’s “Written Journalism Award” category, sweeping the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards with in-depth reports focusing on important consumer issues such as healthcare services, education and training. Its Gold Award-winning entry, Private Healthcare Fee Transparency Series (〈私營醫費透明度系列〉), examined in depth the transparency of private healthcare charges and patients’ right to know, earning high recognition from the adjudication panel.
- Group photo of the Guest of Honour, award presenters, Consumer Council representatives and adjudication panel members, marking the success of the 26th Consumer Rights Reporting Awards.
- Group photo of all guests and awardees, capturing the vibrant atmosphere and showcasing the joint efforts of the media and the Consumer Council in safeguarding consumer rights.
