Ginseng and dried seafood shop and manager convicted of supplying Korean ginseng with false trade description

     A ginseng and dried seafood shop and a manager were convicted and fined $8,000 and $4,000 respectively today (August 1) at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts for supplying Korean ginseng to which a false trade description was applied, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Hong Kong Customs earlier received information and conducted a test-buy operation at a ginseng and dried seafood shop in Sham Shui Po where a box of a Korean brand of Korean ginseng valued at $2,800 was purchased.

     The product was confirmed after examination as not being the brand of ginseng produced by the Korean manufacturer.

     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).