Hong Kong Customs Boosts Patrols to Ensure Consumer Rights During National Day Shopping Period

Hong Kong Customs steps up consumer protection work during Mainland's National Day Golden Week period

Since September 28, Hong Kong Customs has conducted patrols during the Mainland's National Day Golden Week period at popular shopping spots in various districts to remind traders to comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO), with a view to safeguarding the rights of local consumers and visitors.

Apart from patrolling popular shopping areas, Customs officers will also promote compliance at dried seafood and ginseng shops, pharmacies and jewellery shops in different tourist shopping areas such as Yau Tsim Mong and Causeway Bay. Retail shops and workers in the tourist industry will be reminded to comply with the requirements of the TDO.

Customs officers will also distribute pamphlets at control points and popular shopping spots to remind visitors to have a good understanding of a product's specifications and make comparisons before purchasing. They should patronise shops with good reputations. They are also reminded to carefully check the total price and unit price of goods before making payment and to retain transaction receipts and related records, which can serve as supporting documents in case a complaint is lodged in the future.

Customs has long been concerned about visitors being misled into making purchases through unfair trade practices and has established a Quick Response Team to handle urgent complaints lodged by short-haul visitors. The complaints will be promptly referred to investigatorsfor priority handling.

Under the TDO, any trader who adopts unfair trade practices, including making false trade descriptions in relation to goods, misleading omissions, aggressive commercial practices as well as bait and switch practices, 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 suspected violations of the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or 182 80 80 (in service starting tomorrow (October 1)), or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

Hong Kong Customs steps up consumer protection work during Mainland's National Day Golden Week period Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs steps up consumer protection work during Mainland's National Day Golden Week period Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs steps up consumer protection work during Mainland's National Day Golden Week period Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs steps up consumer protection work during Mainland's National Day Golden Week period Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs steps up consumer protection work during Mainland's National Day Golden Week period Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HAD opens temporary heat shelters

The Home Affairs Department will continue to open 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (October 1).

The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.

For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.

The heat shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Island:

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Central and Western -

Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall

3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex

2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern -

Causeway Bay Community Centre

3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay

Southern -

Lei Tung Community Hall

Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Wan Chai -

Wan Chai Activities Centre

LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai

Kowloon Districts:

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Kowloon City -

Hung Hom Community Hall

1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices

42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom

Kwun Tong -

Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre

71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin

Sham Shui Po -

Shek Kip Mei Community Hall

G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po

Wong Tai Sin -

Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre

45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan

Yau Tsim Mong -

Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre

60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei

New Territories Districts:

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Islands -

Tung Chung Community Hall

G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung

Kwai Tsing -

Kwai Shing Community Hall

Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung

North -

Cheung Wah Community Hall

Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling

Sai Kung -

Hang Hau Community Hall

G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O

Sha Tin -

Lung Hang Estate Community Centre

Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin

Tai Po -

Tai Po Community Centre

2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po

Tsuen Wan -

Lei Muk Shue Community Hall

G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan

Tuen Mun -

Butterfly Bay Community Centre

Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun

Yuen Long -

Long Ping Community Hall

Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long

Yuen Long -

Tin Yiu Community Centre

Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai

In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.