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Consumer protection in Hong Kong

Consumer protection in Hong Kong
Hong Kong's Consumer Council is a watchdog focused on consumer rights and welfare.
A source has said that trademark holders must undergo a recordation process with the Customs’ Recordation Office so the department can seize and investigate suspected piracy or counterfeiting activities. Photo: Dickson Lee
Crime in Hong Kong

Exclusive | Hong Kong customs ‘powerless to stop fake Labubu, Chiikawa toys without records’

Source says distributor Pop Mart and owner Nagano have not completed necessary recordation process with Customs and Excise Department.

Crime in Hong Kong

Louis Vuitton Hong Kong faces probe for data breach affecting 419,000 customers

Hong Kong society

4 children’s raincoats fail Hong Kong watchdog’s physical, chemical safety tests

Consumers

Go with the flow: Hong Kong consumer watchdog posts portable fan performance gaps

Study of products shows disparity in airflow and battery life, as well as concerns over ‘inadequate’ safety manuals.

The Consumer Council tested 16 handheld and two neck-mounted products and found a wide variance in performance. Photo: Elson Li
Consumers

Hong Kong man, 80, talked into 5½-year phone plan costing 6 times usual bill

Consumer Council warns that elderly residents are among vulnerable targets of those using predatory telecommunications sales tactics.

Hong Kong society

Hongkongers may soon be limited to 3 prepaid SIM cards per service provider

Authorities say they believe proposed measures can protect telecoms service users and effectively combat fraudulent activities involving prepaid SIM cards.

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Hong Kong society

2,000 jobs at risk as leading Hong Kong security firm confirms impending closure

Decision to cease operations comes as a surprise to CNT Security Company staff and clients, with no prior indication of financial issues.

CNT Security Company, chaired by retired senior police officer Peter Lee, has decided to cease operations before next April, leaving more than 2,000 jobs at risk. Photo: Handout
Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong wedding firm boss arrested as closure leaves couples in lurch

Owner, 40, arrested after customs receives 166 complaints about the firm allegedly wrongly accepting payments.

Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong’s Physical gym founders fined HK$24,000 for unpaid wages to 2 coaches

Chain’s directors have exhausted their payment options after mortgaging all their properties, lawyer says.

Vocational Training Council’s Alaina Shum to lead Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog

Shum set to start new role in August, succeeding Gilly Wong, who led watchdog for 13 years.

Alaina Shum will start her new role on August 21. Photo: Handout
European Union

Allergenic preservatives in 3 dough toys sold in Hong Kong exceed EU standards

Samples containing CMIT and MIT at levels exceeding EU upper limits are Creation Nation wheat dough, Sanrio clay from mainland China and Padico clay from Japan.

The Hong Kong Consumer Council has tested 15 modelling dough and clay toys. Photo: Sun Yeung
Hong Kong economy

Member loses HK$38,000 as Hong Kong branch of Singaporean 1880 club faces probe

Investigation launched after abrupt closure of private club, but members face ‘slim chance’ of membership and joining fees being refunded.

Hong Kong economy

Wedding woes as Hong Kong firm’s suspected closure leaves couples in crisis

Complaints lodged against Ps Wedding & Event Decoration with more than HK$330,000 losses reported to the consumer watchdog.

Mainland China

Ex-head of Hong Kong Consumer Council denies departure due to company apology

Gilly Wong says she stepped down earlier this month after suffering from two serious bouts of cold that prompted her to ‘reflect on life’.

Former chief executive of the Hong Kong Consumer Council Gilly Wong has said her decision to quit earlier this month was “absolutely unrelated” to a controvery last year involving Nongfu Spring, one of mainland China’s biggest bottled water companies. Photo: May Tse
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong private clinics must apply for licence from October, amid rules revamp

‘Negative vetting’ process will see licensing regime gazetted on Friday, following earlier moves targeting hospitals and day procedure centres.

The changes are part of the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance, which was passed in 2018 but enacted in phases, starting with hospitals in 2019 and day procedure centres in 2020. Photo: SCMP
Artificial intelligence

Opinion | Hong Kong firms must take initiative on safe AI practices

While leveraging AI to boost their competitive edge, companies should not allow the technology to run wild or become their new master.

videocam
Switzerland

Hong Kong watchdog warns of burn risks after tests on non-stick frying pans

Consumer Council tests 24 models for fire safety risks, ability to reach standard cooking temperature and blistering, among other issues.

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Hong Kong society

False step? Why you can’t count on data from some smartwatches, fitness trackers

Watchdog warns customers not to rely on smartwatches to track fitness levels for medical purposes, citing deviations of up to 74 per cent.

Three smartwatch models from Polar, a Finnish brand known for sports training computers, showed significant deviations of 59 per cent to 74 per cent, according to the Consumer Council. Photo: Handout
Animal welfare in Hong Kong

Hong Kong vets report higher rates of poor health for online-bought cats, dogs

Consumer watchdog teams up with wildlife authorities to survey veterinarians, and targets 18 online sellers of animals.

Hong Kong society

Letters | Hong Kong must come to grips with risks of prepaid service contracts

Readers discuss consumer protection in the wake of Alliance Medical Group’s closure, regulating pet sales, and the prospect of war between India and Pakistan.

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong customs arrests 2 over medical group’s abrupt closure

Company director and secretary of Alliance Medical Group detained, source says.

One of two people arrested by customs on Wednesday is a secretary of the medical group. Photo: Edmond So
Hong Kong

Hong Kong to review regulations after abrupt closure of Alliance Medical Group

City leader vows to better protect consumer rights by considering statutory cooling-off period or limiting duration of healthcare contracts.

Alliance Medical Group, which ran two clinics in Tsim Sha Tsui and Sha Tin, has not officially announced its closure, but its Facebook and Instagram accounts are no longer available. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong consumer watchdog chief steps down, says ready to start ‘new chapter’

Gilly Wong says she hopes to take a short break and ‘embrace a more measured pace of living’ while exploring ‘new horizons’.

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Private hospital in limbo after Hong Kong clinic’s HK$400,000 debt: lawmaker

Chan Hoi-yan also says legal ‘loopholes’ need to be addressed as Alliance Medical Group’s suspected shutdown could be ‘tip of iceberg’.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong consumer watchdog chief expected to leave after nearly 13 years: source

Gilly Wong’s departure set to be announced as soon as May 6, Post learns.

Gilly Wong has led the watchdog since November 2012. Photo: May Tse
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

458 complaints involving HK$2.7 million filed with Hong Kong watchdog over clinic

One doctor also says Alliance Medical Group, which shut its two clinics without warning, owes him as much as HK$800,000 in wages.

The Alliance Medical Group’s clinic in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

469 complaints and reports lodged over suspected closure of Hong Kong clinic

Customers of Alliance Medical Group, which offers services including vaccinations for children, shocked to discover clinics shut without warning.

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Popular Hong Kong clinic chain in hot water amid suspected closure

Many customers outraged after prepaying thousands for their children’s vaccinations at clinics under Alliance Medical Group.

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