A salesperson of a ginseng and dried seafood shop was sentenced to 10 weeks' imprisonment today (August 18) at Eastern Magistrates' Courts for engaging in an unfair trade practice in the course of selling American ginseng, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
A Customs officer earlier conducted a test-buy operation at a ginseng and dried seafood shop. A salesman misled the purchaser to believe that the American ginseng was priced per catty, and it was later revealed to be priced per tael. The charged amount was 16 times different from what was expected.
Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to purchase products from reputable shops. Consumers should also be cautious about the unit price and ask for more information, including the total price of the goods selected, before making a purchase decision.
Under the TDO, any trader who engages in a commercial practice that omits or hides material information and as a result causes, or is likely to cause, an average consumer to make a transactional decision commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
​Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Friday, August 18, 2017