Lawyers on hand to protect consumer rights at Expo

SHANGHAI - Lawyers and legal advisors will be on hand at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai from May 1 to October 31 to handle consumer complaints, the city's consumers' rights authority announced Monday.

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In late April when the Expo park begins trial operation, the commission will dispatch 28 people who speak English to visitor service centers at the park to advise consumers of their rights.

A team of 26 volunteer lawyers from leading law firms in Shanghai had been formed to help mediate consumer disputes at the Expo park.

Zhao Jiaoli, head of the consumer rights protection commission, said a cross-regional system would be established to handle complaints by Expo visitors when they travel to other areas on the Yangtze River Delta.

It is expected that the World Expo 2010 will receive 70 million visitors, including 3.5 million from abroad.