Hong Kong Customs combats unfair trade practices at education centre

     Hong Kong Customs today (July 16) arrested a female director of an education centre suspected of applying a false trade description in the course of the sale of an education service, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that an education centre claimed that customers would receive a certificate issued by a designated authority upon completion of a lactation course organised by the education centre. However, customers were eventually given only a certificate issued by the education centre.

     After investigation, Customs officers today arrested a 38-year-old woman.

     Investigation is ongoing and the arrested woman was 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 customer 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).