Hong Kong Customs yesterday and today (December 12 and 13) respectively arrested a man and a saleslady of a beauty parlour suspected of engaging in unfair trade practices involving misleading omission in the sale of beauty service, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
Customs earlier received information alleging that a saleslady of a beauty parlour in Causeway Bay, together with a man, misled and lured a consumer to procure beauty service by hiding the commercial intent, causing the consumer to make a transactional decision to procure the service.
After investigation, Customs officers arrested a 23-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman.
Investigation is ongoing and the arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure services at reputable shops.
Under the TDO, any trader who engages in a commercial practice that omits or hides material information or provides material information in a manner that is unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous or untimely, or fails to identify its commercial intent and as a result causes, or is likely to cause, an average consumer to make a transactional decision that the consumer would not have made otherwise 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/Wednesday, December 13, 2017