The supervisor of the roasted meat section of a Chinese restaurant today (March 19) pleaded guilty at Eastern Magistrates' Court to two counts of supplying roasted meat rice boxes with a false trade description, contravening the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). It was found that roasted duck was sold as roasted goose. He was fined $8,000 in total.
The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) reminded traders and the staff responsible to exercise reasonable diligence to ensure that products for sale are in compliance with the statutory requirements of the TDO, and to comply with the provisions of the law.
Acting on information of a complaint, Customs officers had investigated a Chinese restaurant on Hong Kong Island since June 2013 and test-purchased roasted goose rice boxes from the restaurant on two occasions for laboratory analysis. The Government Laboratory confirmed that all the roasted goose bought was in fact roasted duck.
Generally speaking, the retail price of roasted goose was higher than that of roasted duck. Selling roasted duck misrepresented as roasted goose, even at a lower price, would mislead consumers into thinking they could buy relatively expensive goods at a bargain price.
A C&ED spokesperson reminded members of the public to report any suspected violation of the TDO to the C&ED 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 and keep the goods, the invoices and receipts for future reference.
Under the TDO, any person who in the course of trade or business supplies any goods to which a false trade description is applied, or has in his possession for sale any goods to which a false trade description is applied, commits a criminal offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Ends/Wednesday, March 19 2014