Employment agency and its directors cum salespersons convicted of applying false trade description to employment agency service

Date: 18/04/2019

An employment agency and two of its directors cum salespersons were convicted of having applied a false trade description to the employment agency service offered to be supplied to a consumer, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). The employment agency was convicted at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts and fined $5,000 today (April 18). The two directors cum salespersons were each fined $5,000 and ordered to pay the victim $9,980 in compensation at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on March 22.

Hong Kong Customs earlier received information alleging that two directors cum salespersons, one male and one female, of an employment agency had made a false claim to a customer on its licence status in the provision of employment agency service.

After investigation, it was revealed that the employment agency was not a licensed employment agency.

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

Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service 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 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

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