Hong Kong Customs combats unfair trade practices at beauty parlour

     Hong Kong Customs today (July 17) arrested a female director and a saleslady of a beauty parlour suspected of having applied a false trade description to beauty service, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that a saleslady of a beauty parlour had falsely claimed it would arrange an interest-free instalment for a customer in settling the payment for the beauty service procured. The consumer later discovered that the company did not arrange the instalment payment. She had to make an arrangement with the bank on her own and needed to pay the additional handling fee and interest.

     After investigation, Customs officers today arrested two women aged 36 and 39.

     Investigation is ongoing and the arrested women 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.

     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).