Hong Kong Customs today (February 17) arrested a salesman of a ginseng and dried seafood shop suspected to have applied a false trade description in the sale of dried fish maw, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
Customs officers conducted a test-buy operation at a ginseng and dried seafood shop in Tsim Sha Tsui today. A salesman was suspected to have claimed that the unit price of dried fish maw was calculated per catty. After the dried fish maw was sliced, the salesman revealed that the goods were priced per tael. The charged amount was 16 times different from expected. Customs officers then arrested the 48-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 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 Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Sunday, February 17, 2019