Female director of chain education centre convicted of engaging in wrongly accepting payment
A female director of a chain education centre was sentenced to 240 hours of community service order today (December 23) at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts for engaging in wrongly accepting payment when selling tutorial programmes, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). The female director was also ordered by the court to make a compensation of about $70,000 to the victims of the case.
Hong Kong Customs in July 2023 received numerous complaints alleging that a chain education centre suddenly announced business closures of five branches, failing to provide prepaid tutorial programmes purchased by and arrange refunds to customers.
After an investigation, Customs found that the some branches of the education centre were in arrears with rent and salaries. However, they still accepted payments for prepaid programmes even anticipating that they would be unable to continue operating.
Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO. Traders should not accept advance payments from consumers if they are uncertain whether the pertinent services can be delivered to consumers within a specific or reasonable time. Consumers are also reminded to procure services at reputable shops and think prudently before making decisions regarding consumption by prepayment. After purchasing services, consumers should keep the transaction receipts and related records, which can become basic information in case a complaint is lodged in the future.
Under the TDO, any trader commits an offence if at the time of acceptance of payment, the trader intends not to supply the product or there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the trader will be able to supply the product within a specified or reasonable period. 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 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Muse Fest HK 2024 concludes attracting more than 630,000 participants
Muse Fest HK 2024, launched by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) in November, has successfully concluded, attracting more than 630,000 people to participate in more than 70 delightful programmes organised by the LCSD museums and art spaces, representing a 20 per cent increase in participants as compared to last year. This year marked the 10th edition of Muse Fest under the same theme "Hong Kong H.A.S. (History. Art. Science.) Museums”, introducing Hong Kong's rich and distinctive cultural heritage and artistic diversity. Notably, the two-day inaugural event of Muse Fest 2024, Fun@Museum Carnival, received an overwhelming response, having attracted the participation of more than 25,000 members of the public and tourists, which was three times the number compared to last year.
The Fun@Museum Carnival, focusing on Chinese culture, was a collaborative curation by the LCSD cultural sections, which featured a total of 24 diverse performances and interactive workshops on the development and inheritance of Chinese culture and history at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Space Museum (HKSpM) and Salisbury Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui on November 2 and 3. Highlights included performances of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) items such as the lion dance, fire dragon dance and puppetry. Apart from taking photos, visitors could try to dance the lion and unicorn, and join workshops to make flower buttons, lion head crafts and postcards. The Waxing in Conservation booth of the LCSD Conservation Office invited visitors to experience using wax materials to protect various types of artifacts and make magnets as souvenirs. The Gear Up - Nano World Outreach Programme booth presented by the Science Promotion Unit of the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Library-on-Wheels outreach truck and the Cosmic Voyage Treasure Hunt Activity organised by the HKSpM also attracted families to share the fun.
The November weekends saw fun days at various museums, including the Sheung Yiu Folk Museum, the Hong Kong Railway Museum, the Fireboat Alexander Grantham Exhibition Gallery, the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, the ICH Centre at the Sam Tung Uk Museum as well as the Oil Street Art Space (Oi!). The Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, in celebration of its 40th anniversary, held special events on two evenings, staging an outdoor immersive light show "Gentle Smoke of Tea" on the museum's façade, and a concert, interactive display and exhibitions in the museum. Furthermore, the exclusive events, Meet the Curator - Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence and The Fireboat Then and Now Guided Tour - A Fireman Leads the Way, organised for LCSD Museum Pass holders were well received.
In addition, 12 Guangdong and Macao museums from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Museum Alliance also joined this year's Muse Fest. Specifically, the Shenzhen Museum introduced the Shenzhen Branch of Hong Kong Museum Festival 2024 - The Beauty of Ingenuity series of research activities, which received an enthusiastic response. Programmes such as wood carving and gilding, a woodworking activity with mortise and tenon joinery, seal engraving, printmaking and a drama education class were highly popular. The relevant online social media platforms received a total of over 75,000 hits. The events were widely covered by the media in the Mainland.
To extend the museum experience journey and deepen the public’s knowledge of the history of museums, art, culture, science and films, Muse Fest's Selected Museum Publications and Souvenirs Mega Sale will continue until March 31, 2025, offering discounts of up to 50 per cent for selected museum publications and souvenirs. Members of the public are welcome to visit the LCSD museums to make their purchases.
Muse Fest HK 2024 concludes attracting more than 630,000 participants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Muse Fest HK 2024 concludes attracting more than 630,000 participants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Muse Fest HK 2024 concludes attracting more than 630,000 participants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Muse Fest HK 2024 concludes attracting more than 630,000 participants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Muse Fest HK 2024 concludes attracting more than 630,000 participants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Muse Fest HK 2024 concludes attracting more than 630,000 participants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Muse Fest HK 2024 concludes attracting more than 630,000 participants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Muse Fest HK 2024 concludes attracting more than 630,000 participants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Muse Fest HK 2024 concludes attracting more than 630,000 participants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Muse Fest HK 2024 concludes attracting more than 630,000 participants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Muse Fest HK 2024 concludes attracting more than 630,000 participants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Muse Fest HK 2024 concludes attracting more than 630,000 participants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
