Unfair Trade Practices Under Fire in Hong Kong

In a recent operation, Hong Kong Customs made headlines by arresting a 27-year-old salesman suspected of misleading customers at a Tsim Sha Tsui medicine shop. This arrest, occurring on September 18, is part of a broader initiative to combat unfair trade practices, particularly surrounding the sales of American ginseng.

Bait and Switch Tactics Exposed!

Reports indicated that the salesman initially advertised American ginseng at a unit price calculated per catty. However, once the ginseng was sliced, shoppers were shocked to discover it was priced per tael—a significant price increase! This deceptive practice violates the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO), which prohibits false trade descriptions in any commercial dealings.

Ongoing Investigations and Consumer Protection