Hong Kong Customs combats suspected unfair trade practices by wedding services company
Hong Kong Customs today (May 28) arrested a male director of a wedding services company who is suspected of having applied false trade descriptions in the course of selling a wedding banquet service, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
Customs earlier received information from a member of the public alleging that a wedding services company in Kowloon Bay falsely claimed to a customer that a specified number of staff would be on-site to provide service, and that the food and beverages specified in the contract would be provided. However, the customer discovered on the day of the banquet that the number of staff and the food and beverages provided on-site were significantly different from what the company had promised.
After an investigation, Customs officers today arrested a 34-year-old male director of the wedding services company.
An investigation is ongoing and the arrested person has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs reminded traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to purchase products from reputable shops.
Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied or offered to be supplied to a consumer commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
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Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk), or by filling in an online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).