Hong Kong Customs today (May 18) arrested a male director and a salesman of a domestic helper agency suspected of having applied a false trade description to the employment services supplied, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that an employer recruited a foreign domestic helper via a domestic helper agency and later discovered the employment record of the foreign domestic helper was different from the claim of the agency.

     After investigation, Customs officers today arrested two men, aged 32 and 47.

     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.

     Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied to a consumer commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years. The management staff will also be liable if the offence is committed with their consent or connivance or is attributed to their neglect.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 18) that Tai Kok Tsui Swimming Pool in Yau Tsim Mong District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of faeces in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 6.30am tomorrow.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.

Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Tseung Kwan O this afternoon (May 18) in which a 70-year-old man died.

At about 1pm, a private car driven by the 70-year-old man was travelling along Ying Yip Road north bound. When approaching Chap Fuk Road, it reportedly collided with another private car driven by a 48-year-old man.

The 70-year-old driver was rushed to Tseung Kwan O Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 2.30pm.

Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon East is underway.

Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 2305 7500 or 2305 7570.

     Hongkong Post today (May 18) reminded the public to ensure that their mail items have sufficient postage affixed before posting.

     Following the adjustment of principal postage rates that took effect in January this year, Hongkong Post has continued to detect a fair amount of underpaid mail items.

     "Since mid-May, there has been a significant increase in mail items bearing underpaid postage detected, including many green envelopes which are believed to be tax returns," a Hongkong Post spokesman said.

     "Insufficient postage will lead to delay in delivery and a surcharge being levied. If the deficient postage and surcharge are not paid by the sender or the addressee within 14 working days, the mail items will be destroyed.

     "Tax returns without sufficient postage and a return address will be destroyed after the 14-day period has expired.

     "We would thus like to remind the public again that the principal postage for local letters weighing up to 30 grams has been revised to $2 since January, and urge the public to affix sufficient postage before sending their mail items," the spokesman said. 

     The prevailing postage rates, a postage calculator and a "Correct Addressing" tool are available on the Hongkong Post website (www.hongkongpost.hk) and the Hongkong Post mobile app.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 18) urged the public not to consume a batch of a bottled alcoholic drink imported from Japan due to possible damage of the bottle rims. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it.

     Details of the product are as follows:

Product name: Not available in English
Place of origin: Japan
Manufacturer: Hakutsuru Sake Brewing Co Ltd
Importer: Nansen Trading Co (HK) Ltd
Volume: 720 millilitres per bottle
Lot code: HBZG/UP

     A CFS spokesman said, "The CFS, through its routine Food Incident Surveillance System, noted that the above-mentioned product is under recall in Japan and Macao due to possible damage of the bottle rims. The CFS immediately followed up with major local importers, retailers and the Japanese authorities concerned. According to the information provided by the Japanese authorities, a local importer, Nansen Trading Co (HK) Ltd, had imported the affected batch of the product into Hong Kong."
 
     The spokesman said that according to the information provided by the importer concerned, it had imported 25 cartons (a total of 150 bottles) of the affected batch of the product, of which seven cartons were distributed and the remaining stock was stored in its warehouse. The importer has removed from shelves and stopped sale of the affected product and initiated a recall. Members of the public may call the hotline of the importer at 2546 6680 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.

     The spokesman urged members of the public not to consume the affected batch of the product if they have purchased any. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it.

     The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.