​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 25) arrested a female director and salesperson of a postnatal care centre suspected of having applied false trade descriptions in the course of selling postnatal services, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information from members of the public alleging that a postnatal care centre, when selling postnatal services, had falsely claimed to have partnerships with multiple private hospitals, offering appointment-free medical consultation services, and claimed to have collaborated with a well-known restaurant to provide postnatal meals. Upon using the services, customers found that there were material differences from what the centre had promised and services delivered. Customs subsequently launched an investigation and verified with the relevant hospitals and the restaurant, all of which confirmed that they had no partnership with the postnatal care centre.

     After investigation, Customs officers yesterday arrested a 40-year-old local female director and salesperson of the centre.

     An 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 businesses.

     Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied or offered to be supplied to a consumer 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 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, June 26, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:02

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