Hong Kong Customs conducted an operation to combat restaurants supplying short-weight seafood from November 19 to today (November 30). During the operation, three restaurants were found to be suspected of supplying short-weight Alaskan crabs.
Customs officers conducted test-buy operations at restaurants in different districts and ordered Alaskan crab. The crabs supplied by three restaurants located in North Point, Kwai Chung and Tseung Kwan O were found short of weight by 8 taels to 12.9 taels. The spring scale of the restaurant in Tseung Kwan O was also found to be inaccurate.
Investigations are ongoing.
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 purported 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 $20,000.
Customs appeals to traders to comply with the requirements of the WMO. Customs also reminds consumers to purchase products from reputable shops and pay attention to the process of weighing by restaurants when ordering food supplied by weight.
Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against short-weight activities at restaurants to protect consumers' interests and uphold a fair trading environment.
Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the WMO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
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