Hong Kong Police received a suspect and the stolen goods in connection with a robbery case from the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau at the Lok Ma Chau Boundary Control Point today (December 19). A lo… read more
Hong Kong Customs today (December 19) arrested four male staff members of a fitness centre suspected of engaging in aggressive commercial practices in the course of selling fitness service, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
Customs earlier received information alleging that staff members of a fitness centre with two branches in Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei were suspected of falsely claiming that customers had not fully paid for their procured fitness service plans and, by imposing undue influence, requested four customers to pay additional sum of money. The customers were forced to pay a total of $10,800, $16,200, $48,800 and $246,000 respectively.
After investigation, Customs officers today arrested four men, aged between 21 and 23.
Investigation is ongoing and the arrested men 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. Before making any purchase decision, consumers should be cautious in providing their identity cards or credit cards to a salesperson. Consumers should firmly refuse signing any documents if they do not clearly know the content and price of the service to be provided, or have no intention to purchase the service.
Under the TDO, any trader commits an offence of engaging in aggressive commercial practices if harassment, coercion or undue influence is used to impair consumer’s freedom of choice or conduct, causing the consumer to make a transactional decision. 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). read more
Correctional officers at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre today (December 19) intercepted a male remand person in custody smuggling suspected dangerous drugs into the centre by concealing them inside his body. … read more
Two men and a company were fined from $6,000 to $12,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts today (December 19) for contravening the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance.
The courts heard that in May this year, officers from the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted inspections at two clubs on Nathan Road and Hau Fook Street in Tsim Sha Tsui, which had been operating with certificates of compliance (CoCs).
The club on Nathan Road was found to have a layout that deviated from the registered drawing and the number of people at the club exceeded the maximum allowable capacity as stipulated in the CoC. Conditions 3 and 6 of the CoC were breached. The man, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) of the Ordinance.
During the investigation in the club on Hau Fook Street, the OLA officers posed as customers and patronised the club for food and drinks without being asked to show their membership status or being invited to join the club as members. The OLA officers also found that the exit route had been obstructed. Conditions 12 and 19 of the CoC were breached. Also, the OLA officers found that the club had been operating under a name other than the one indicated on the CoC on the day of inspection.
The man, being the manager of the club, was charged with contravening sections 21(1) (a) and 21(1) (c) of the Ordinance and the company, being the CoC holder of the club, was charged with contravening section 21(2) and 21(1) (c) of the Ordinance.
A spokesman for the department reminded all CoC holders to comply with the conditions as stipulated therein. Enforcement action will continue to be taken against illegal club operations. read more
A woman was fined $6,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts today (December 19) for contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
The courts heard that in June this year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), the Home Affairs Department, inspected a suspected unlicensed guesthouse on Reclamation Street in Mong Kok. During the inspection, the OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented a room in the guesthouse on a daily basis.
According to the OLA’s records, the guesthouse did not possess a licence under the Ordinance on the day of inspection. The woman responsible for managing the premises was charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance.
A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing an unlicensed guesthouse is a criminal offence and will lead to a criminal record. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
The spokesman appealed to anyone with information about suspected unlicensed guesthouses to report it to the OLA through the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805) using the report form downloaded from the OLA website (www.hadla.gov.hk), or through the mobile application “Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses”. read more