Hong Kong Customs today (June 27) arrested a female owner cum saleslady of a beauty parlour suspected of engaging in unfair trade practices involving misleading omission in the sale of beauty service, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
Customs earlier received information alleging that a female owner cum saleslady of a beauty parlour in Ngau Tau Kok failed to timely provide the information about the restriction imposed on the use of the beauty service procured by customers, causing customers to make a transactional decision to use such service.
After investigation, Customs officers today arrested a 47-year-old woman.
Investigation is ongoing and the arrested woman 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 engages in a commercial practice that omits or hides material information or provides material information in a manner that is unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous or untimely, and as a result causes, or is likely to cause, an average consumer to make a transactional decision 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).
Ends/Wednesday, June 27, 2018