Hong Kong Customs combats unfair trade practices at renovation company

     Hong Kong Customs today (November 13) arrested a male director of a renovation company who is suspected of having applied a false trade description in the course of selling renovation services in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that a director of a renovation company had made a false claim that his renovation company was a subsidiary of another renovation company.

     After investigation, Customs officers today arrested a 27-year-old man.

     Investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has 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 the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).