Hong Kong Customs has recently mounted an enforcement operation to combat alleged unfair trade practices by a beauty company and launched an investigation into a retailer suspected of engaging in aggressive commercial practices in the course of selling skincare products and beauty devices, in apparent contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
Customs officers earlier received six reports alleging that a retailer was suspiciously imposing undue influence and using aggressive commercial practices to force consumers to make transactional decisions in the commercial process and business operation of selling beauty products and beauty devices. The amounts involved ranged from $1,800 to $100,000. Customs officers visited the registered address of the company involved today (August 18) to conduct an investigation and gather evidence.
Customs attaches great importance to the cases. The investigation is ongoing and arrests are not ruled out. The department also appeals to consumers who have encountered the aforementioned suspected unfair trade practices to contact Customs as soon as possible.
Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and urges consumers to procure services or products at reputable shops. Before making any purchase decision, consumers should remain calm. Consumers should firmly refuse to sign any sales documents or make payments if they do not clearly know the content and prices of the products, or have no intention of purchasing the products.
Under the TDO, any trader commits an offence of engaging in aggressive commercial practices if harassment, coercion or undue influence is used to impair a consumer's freedom of choice or conduct, causing the consumer to make a transactional decision. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Customs has always attached great importance to consumer rights protection and has zero tolerance for unfair trade practices, pledging to continue its stringent enforcement action against unscrupulous traders.
Members of the public may report any suspected violation of the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).