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Support for consumer group urged

Premier Frank Hsieh, right, yesterday visits the Consumers' Foundation in an attempt to give a boost to the cash-strapped group. PHOTO: FANG PIN-CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES

Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday donated NT$50,000 to the Consumers' Foundation (消基會) and urged the public to support the group, which is facing closure because of serious financial difficulties.

"We are not asking for much. Only some spare cash that you have may be enough to help the foundation," the premier said. "We only have to do a little so the foundation will be able to survive and keep going."

Established 25 years ago, the foundation has relied on donations to fund its work of fighting for consumers' rights. It is a non-profit organization and is similar to the the US' Better Business Bureau. However, according to the foundation, since April donations have been decreasing and last month it did not have enough funds to pay its employees.

The premier said that many people have misunderstood the foundation over the years, with some mistakenly believing it was supported by the government, and others thinking that it always opposed the government.

"However, both of these remarks are wrong," Hsieh said.

"Everybody hates criticism, but it is also something that keeps us making progress and moving forward," he said. "We should love and cherish this organization instead of hating it."

The premier said that because the foundation fights for justice for consumers, it deserves everyone's support to help it continue to exist.

According to foundation Chairman Lee Feng-ao (李鳳翱), Hsieh acted as a legal consultant for the foundation in 1987. Hsieh also pushed for the Consumer Protection Law (消費者保護法) to be passed by the legislature.
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