Cap. 378 Art. 4Consumer Affairs Council.

(1) There shall be established a Council to be designated

"the Consumer Affairs Council" having the functions and duties set out in this Act. The Council shall consist of a chairman and five other members, one of whom shall be appointed as deputy chairman.

(2) The Minister shall appoint:

(a) the chairman and four other members from among persons who, because of their experience, qualifications or activities, the Minister considers as being able to contribute towards the promotion of consumer interests; and

(b) one member who, because of his experience, qualifications or activities, the Minister considers as being able to state the point of view of traders.

(3) One of the members, other than the chairman, mentioned in sub-article (2)(a) shall be appointed after consultation with those consumer associations, if any, registered under Part IV of this Act and the member mentioned in paragraph (b) of the same sub-article shall be appointed after consultation with those constituted bodies which the Minister considers to represent the interests of traders.

(4) The appointed members shall hold office for such term, not being more than three years, as may be specified in their letter of appointment and shall be eligible for re-appointment.

(5) Where the seat of any appointed member is vacated before the expiration of the term fixed in his letter of appointment, the Minister shall appoint another person to replace such member for such term, not being a term of more than three years, as the Minister may determine in his letter of appointment.

(6) The deputy chairman shall act instead of the chairman whenever the chairman is lawfully impeded or is absent from a meeting of the Council.

(7) A person shall not be eligible to be appointed a member of the Council, or to continue to be a member of the Council if such person -

(a) is a member of the House of Representatives; or

(b) is legally incapacitated or interdicted; or

(c) has been declared bankrupt or has made a composition with his creditors; or

(d) has been convicted of, or found guilty of -

(i) any crime affecting public trust; or

(ii) theft; or

(iii) fraud; or

(iv) knowingly receiving property obtained by theft or fraud; or

(v) any offence or infringement contemplated in this Act, regulations made thereunder, the Customs Ordinance and the Metrology Act, or any law repealed by any of the said Acts or Ordinances or any law replacing the same.

(8) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article the Minister may at any time terminate the appointment of an appointed member, if in his opinion such appointed member is unfit to continue in office or has become incapable of properly performing his functions.

(9) The Minister shall appoint an officer serving in the public service to act as non-voting secretary of the Council.