Hong Kong Customs today (March 27) mounted a special enforcement operation to combat unfair trade practices by a fitness centre and arrested two staff members of a chain fitness centre suspected of engaging in aggressive commercial practices in the course of selling fitness services, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs officers earlier received information that staff members of a chain fitness centre in Mong Kok separately enticed two customers to visit the fitness centre on the pretext of claiming a prize and redeeming gifts. Subsequently, the staff members forced the customers to make payments and sign fitness service contracts before allowing them to leave. The staff members were suspected of imposing undue influence and using aggressive commercial practices to force the customers to procure fitness services.

     After an investigation, Customs officers today arrested a 30-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman. The investigation is ongoing.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and urges consumers to procure services at reputable shops. Before making any purchase decision, consumers should be cautious when providing their identity cards or credit cards to salespersons. Consumers should firmly refuse to sign any documents if they do not clearly know the content and charges of the services, or have no intention of purchasing the services.

     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.

     Stressing its priority given to consumer rights protection and its zero tolerance for unfair trade practices by fitness centres, Customs pledges that it will 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).

Ends/Friday, March 27, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:46

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