​A woman was sentenced to 100 hours of community service today (June 16) at Eastern Magistrates' Courts for applying false trade descriptions to employment agency services, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). She was also ordered by the court to pay compensation of about $63,000 to the victims.
Hong Kong Customs earlier received information alleging that a woman had claimed to two foreign domestic helpers that she was employed by licensed employment agencies and could arrange for their relatives and friends to come and work in Hong Kong.
Investigation revealed that the woman was not employed by any licensed employment agency. Also, she failed to provide the relevant employment services and did not offer a refund after charging the victims about $30,000 and $36,000.
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).
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