Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region Tung Chee Hwa Friday called for more efforts to keep abreast of the global development and initiate more "Green Testing" projects in the drive to safeguard consumers' interests and to promote a fair and competitive environment for businesses to operate.

Tung noted the many challenges facing Hong Kong brought on by globalization and rapid technological advances such as e-commerce and issues relating to green and sustainable consumption when he made a visit to the Hong Kong Consumer Council.

On e-commerce, Tung was informed that the council took part in a number of international research and surveillance projects that include the annual worldwide Internet Sweep Day to identify and educate operators of questionable web sites and an International Code of Practice on Internet Shopping.

Tung appreciated the council's efforts to safeguard consumers' interests on the one hand, and to promote a fair and competitive environment for businesses to operate on the other.

He said he was impressed by the council's vigilance of the ever-changing marketplace and the swift responses to public concerns on consumer issues from price increases to hazardous products, trade practices to legislation.

Tung was also briefed on the close relations which the council has established with counterpart organizations the world over, and those in the Chinese mainland. (Xinhua)