Hong Kong Customs today (September 19) arrested a 29-year-old male director of a private English learning centre, suspected to have committed the offence of wrongly accepting payment under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
Customs earlier received complaints from members of the public against a private English learning centre which was not able to provide courses after accepting payments and failed to return the payments. The allegation was suspected to have constituted offences of wrongly accepting payment under the TDO.
After initial investigation, Customs officers arrested a 29-year-old man today. The case is still under investigation and the arrested person has been put on bail.
Under the TDO, it is an offence for a trader to accept payments for a product if at the time of accepting the payments, he does not intend to supply it or intends to supply another materially different product, or if there are no reasonable grounds for believing that he will be able to supply the product at the agreed time or within a reasonable time. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment of five years.
Customs reminded traders to comply with the statutory requirements of the TDO. Traders should not accept advance payments from consumers if they are uncertain whether the pertinent goods or services can be delivered to consumers at the agreed time or, if no time is agreed, within a reasonable time.
Members of the public may report suspected cases in violation of the TDO to Customs by calling the 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Monday, September 19 2016