Watchdog Urges Lawmakers To Pass Cooling-off Law

The head of the Consumer Council, Gilly Wong, says she hope that disputes in the Legislative Council will not prevent the passage of a bill to protect people who sign contracts with fitness or beauty companies.

Under the proposed legislation, people who sign contracts with companies in the two sectors would be given a cooling-off period allowing them to change their minds. It follows complaints of high-pressure sales tactics and expensive contracts that are hard or impossible to cancel.

"We are still cautiously optimistic about the possibility to have the cooling-off period legislated," Wong said. "The reason being that it is related to the affairs of the public, and many consumers, when they purchase beauty and health club services, have been encountering different levels of malpractice.

"No matter how severe the protests are right now, we believe life goes on and people will continue to consume. It is very important to provide them with the right level of protection."

Lawmakers have begun preliminary work on the law, but if a bill isn't passed by the time Legco's term ends next year, all Legislative Work will go back to square one.

Legco's work has slowed amid disputes over the government's failure to meet the demands of protesters who've taken to the streets in the past five months, and pan-democrats have engaged in delaying tactics in the legislature.

Some committees, including the agenda-setting House Committee, have yet to select their chairs.