​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (April 16) arrested a salesman of a medicine shop suspected of applying a false trade description in the course of selling a proprietary medicine, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
Customs officers conducted a test-buy operation at a medicine shop in Tsim Sha Tsui yesterday afternoon. A salesman was suspected of applying a false trade description by claiming a brand of medicine was another particular brand of medicine. Customs officers then arrested the 46-year-old salesman.
Investigation is ongoing and the arrested person has been released on bail pending further investigation.
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 in the course of any trade or business applies a false trade description to any goods 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).
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