A car seller was convicted and fined $40,000 and sentenced to imprisonment of two months suspended for two years today (July 5) at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts for supplying a second-hand vehicle with a false trade description, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
Hong Kong Customs earlier received information alleging that a second-hand car seller had made a false claim to a consumer. After investigation, it was revealed that the seller had supplied a second-hand vehicle bearing an odometer reading (travelling mileage) of 28,000 kilometres to a consumer. Subsequently, it was confirmed that at the material time the actual travelling mileage of the vehicle had exceeded 80,000km.
Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure products at reputable shops.
Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, 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 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Thursday, July 5, 2018