Car dealer and its sole proprietor and salesperson convicted of supplying vehicle with false trade description

Date: 15/04/2019

A car dealer, its sole proprietor and salesman were convicted today (April 15) at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts for supplying a second-hand vehicle with a false trade description, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). The sole proprietor and the salesman were each sentenced to 180 hours of community service while the car dealer was fined $20,000.

Hong Kong Customs earlier received information alleging that a second-hand car dealer had made a false claim to a consumer. After investigation, it was revealed that the dealer's sole proprietor and salesman had supplied a second-hand vehicle bearing an odometer reading (travelling mileage) of 36,029 kilometres to a customer. It was subsequently confirmed that the vehicle's actual travelling mileage exceeded 49,479 kilometres.

Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure products at reputable shops.

Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, 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 its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

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