Hong Kong Customs has successfully prosecuted a private education centre for wrongly accepting payment in the course of business under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). The defendant was fined $48,000 and ordered to pay $21,994 compensation to the victims today (September 7) at Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts.
Customs earlier received information alleging that the private education centre was unable to provide relevant courses after accepting payments and failed to return the payments to its centre members. After investigation, the centre was suspected of wrongly accepting payment in the course of business. A prosecution was subsequently made.
Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO. Under the TDO, a trader commits an offence if at the time of acceptance of payment the trader intends not to supply the product or intends to supply a materially different product, or there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the trader will be able to supply the product within a specified or reasonable period. 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/Thursday, September 7, 2017