Hong Kong Customs today (April 24) arrested a manager of a beauty parlour who was suspected of engaging in unfair trade practices involving aggressive commercial practices, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). 

     Customs earlier received information alleging that a manager of a beauty parlour in Causeway Bay imposed undue influence on a customer, causing her to subsequently cancel some purchased beauty treatments and pay an additional $90,000 as an application fee for the refund. The manager promised that a full refund for the treatments and application fee would be made within a specified period. However, despite repeated requests, the customer did not receive any refund. 

     After an investigation, Customs officers today arrested a 37-year-old female manager. 

     The investigation is ongoing, and the arrested person 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 commits an offence of engaging in aggressive commercial practices if harassment, coercion or undue influence is used to impair the 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 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).

Ends/Thursday, April 24, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:40

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