From March 18 to 28, Hong Kong Customs conducted a territory-wide spot check with a view to combating traders supplying shortweight products before the Ching Ming Festival. In the test-buy and spot-check operation against roasted meat shops mounted across the territory, seven traders were found supplying suspected shortweight products.
During the operation, Customs officers inspected a total of 67 roasted meat shops in different districts, seven of which were found supplying siu mei products that were shortweighted with a range from 7.5 per cent to 20 per cent.
Investigations are ongoing.
Customs reminds consumers to purchase products from reputable shops and pay attention to the weighing process and the actual weight when the products are supplied by weight.
Under the Weights and Measures Ordinance (WMO), any person who in the course of trade supplies goods to another person by weight or measure should supply the goods in net weight or net measure. Any shortage of the quantity purporting to be supplied is an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $10,000. In addition, any person who uses for trade, or has in his possession for use for trade, any weighing or measuring equipment which is false or defective commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $25,000. Also, any person who fails to let customers have a clear view of readings of the weighing or measuring equipment is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $5,000.
Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against shortweight activities during festivals to protect consumers' interests and uphold a fair trading environment.
Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the WMO to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Ends/Wednesday, April 3, 2024