The Hong Kong Consumer Council (HKCC) yesterday took part in the “3·15 World Consumer Rights Day” event in Shenzhen, organised by the Shenzhen Consumer Council and the Market Regulation Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality under the theme of “Quality Consumption for a Better Life”. At the event, consumer organisations from 13 cities in Guangdong Province, together with Hong Kong and Macau, jointly released the Advocacy Statement on Building a Trustworthy Consumer Environment in the Guangdong‑Hong Kong‑Macao Greater Bay Area (“the Advocacy Statement”). The HKCC also set up a booth at Shenzhen Book Mall to introduce the Council’s core work in safeguarding consumer rights to Mainland consumers.
Mr Francis Ho, Deputy Chief Executive of the HKCC, attended the announcement ceremony alongside representatives from various consumer organisations in the Great Bay Area (GBA). The Advocacy Statement outlines several key areas for future collaboration, including developing shared “GBA standards”, promoting mutual recognition of consumer protection standards and guidelines in the GBA, strengthening cross‑boundary complaint referral and information‑sharing mechanisms, jointly monitoring the risk of emerging consumption patterns, and enhancing cooperation on consumer education.
Led by the Shenzhen Consumer Council and the Market Regulation Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, yesterday’s event centred on the theme of “Quality Consumption for a Better Life” and was supported by key consumer organisations in the GBA.
“3·15 World Consumer Rights Day”, a signature occasion promoted annually by Consumers International, draws global attention to consumer rights. The theme for 2026 is “Safe Products, Confident Consumers”. As cross‑boundary travel between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong continues to grow in volume, cross‑boundary consumption has also seen a notable uptick. The HKCC has maintained close collaboration with consumer protection organisations across the GBA to strengthen consumer safeguards regionally.
To enhance protection for Mainland consumers engaging in cross‑boundary consumption, the HKCC has prepared information leaflets featuring real complaint cases, practical consumer tips, and an overview of how consumer organisations in different jurisdictions handle cross‑boundary complaints through established information‑sharing and complaint referral mechanisms. The initiative aims to help Mainland consumers avoid common consumption pitfalls and enhance their self‑protection capacity. Last year, the HKCC, together with the Guangdong Consumer Council and the Macao SAR Government Consumer Council, also issued a joint consumer alert reminding consumers to stay aware of differences in policies, logistics arrangements and product standards across the three regions. Related articles have also been published regularly in CHOICE magazine.
The HKCC will continue to deepen cross‑boundary cooperation and actively participate in regional initiatives to encourage more responsible industry practices and help create a safer, more trustworthy and consumer‑friendly marketplace—ensuring both residents and visitors can enjoy a more reassuring and trustworthy consumption environment.
Photo Captions
1. Mr Francis Ho, Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Consumer Council, attended the “3·15 World Consumer Rights Day” event in Shenzhen, joining representatives from 13 cities in Guangdong Province and Macau to release the Advocacy Statement on Building a Trustworthy Consumer Environment in the Guangdong‑Hong Kong‑Macao Greater Bay Area.
2. Hong Kong Consumer Council staff distributing information leaflets at the Shenzhen “3·15 World Consumer Rights Day” event, highlighting cross‑boundary complaint cases and key consumer tips to help the public avoid common pitfalls.
