Hong Kong Customs successfully prosecutes beauty parlour salespersons for applying false trade description to service

Date: 25/04/2018

Hong Kong Customs has successfully prosecuted two beauty parlour salespersons for applying a false trade description to a service offered to be supplied under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). One of the defendants was convicted and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (April 25). The other defendant pleaded guilty earlier and was sentenced to carry out a community service of 240 hours on March 7 this year. This is the first ever case of its kind.

Hong Kong Customs earlier received information alleging that staff members of a beauty parlour had applied a false trade description in the sale of beauty treatment service. After investigation, a beauty consultant and a beautician were found making false claim to offer unlimited usage beauty treatment service permanently. A prosecution was subsequently made.

Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO. Under the TDO, any person who applies a false trade description to a service 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 the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182, or dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

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