Tag Archives: China

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Hong Kong Customs combats unfair trade practices at fitness centre

     Hong Kong Customs today (August 30) arrested two female staff members of a fitness centre suspected of engaging in aggressive commercial practices in the course of selling fitness service, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that staff members of a fitness centre in Causeway Bay imposed undue influence in selling fitness services to a customer who was forced to procure fitness club membership and personal trainer sessions valued at $47,280 and $1,600 respectively.

     After investigation, Customs officers today arrested two women aged 25 and 28.

     Investigation is ongoing and the arrested women have 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. Before making the purchase decision, consumers should not easily provide their identity cards or credit cards to a salesperson. Consumers should firmly refuse signing any sales documents if they have no intention to purchase.

     Under the TDO, any trader commits an offence of engaging in aggressive commercial practices if harassment, coercion or undue influence is used to impair 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.

     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). read more

East Asia

CFS follows up on illegal import of burdock from Japan

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 30) that a carton of burdock, totalling ten kilograms, from Gunma Prefecture, Japan was illegally imported into Hong Kong. None of the product concerned has entered the market. The CFS is following up on the case.

     A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS inspected a consignment of food imported from Japan and found the abovementioned burdock product from Gunma Prefecture therein. It was not accompanied with a radiation certificate and an exporter certificate issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)of Japan, breaching the relevant Food Safety Order. The product concerned has not entered the market and has been marked and sealed by the CFS. The Centre has taken a sample of the product concerned for testing of radiation level and no radiation has been detected.

     “According to the Order, the import of vegetables, fruits, milk, milk beverages and dried milk from four Japanese prefectures, namely Ibaraki, Tochigi, Chiba and Gunma, must be accompanied with radiation certificates and exporter certificates issued by the MAFF of Japan. The CFS conducts a radiation test on each consignment of Japanese food import, and requires importers not to sell the products until the test result turns out to be satisfactory. The aforementioned illegal import was detected by the CFS during inspection and the product concerned did not enter the market. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the CFS’ gate-keeping work.”

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action, including informing the Japanese authorities concerned of the incident. Prosecution will be instituted against the importer concerned should there be sufficient evidence. Investigation is ongoing. read more

East Asia