Hong Kong Customs and Travel Industry Authority conduct enforcement operation against unlicensed travel agent
Hong Kong Customs and the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) conducted a joint enforcement operation on May 27 against an unlicensed travel agent. Customs officers arrested a 62-year-old male proprietor of the agent who was suspected of providing a travel agent service on which a false trade description was applied, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). Additionally, he was also suspected of carrying on a travel agent business without a licence, in contravention of the Travel Industry Ordinance, and the TIA is conducting follow-up investigations into the matter.
Customs and the TIA earlier received information that the travel agent, claiming to possess a travel agent licence, provided tour services to customers but in fact the agent did not hold a valid travel agent licence.
An investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs reminded traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to purchase services from reputable shops. Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied or offered to be 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 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/en).
Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units
Today (April 21) is the second day of phased arrangements for residents of seven blocks of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to return to their units. Ten middle-zone floors of Wang Sun House were opened. The access arrangements were carried out in an orderly manner and operated smoothly.
A total of 77 households (271 people) registered to return to their units today through the "one social worker per household" service, while 78 households (275 people) actually turned up (one household reported sick and absent yesterday joined the arrangement today). The average time residents spent entering and leaving the building today was one hour and 48 minutes, with the shortest time being 21 minutes and the longest three hours and 25 minutes. About 13 per cent of the residents stayed in the building for less than one hour. A total of 14 households (34 people) went up and down the building more than once within three hours. Among them, eight households (23 people) made one additional trip, four households (eight people) made two additional trips, while one household (one person) made four additional trips, with the highest record of one person of one household making five additional trips and another making four additional trips.
The integrated enquiry counter set up by relevant departments today received 11 cases of requesting police assistance and two cases involving residents seeking help due to physical discomfort, as well as two cases seeking psychological counselling services.
The 11 cases of requesting police assistance involved suspected loss of property, including camera, jewellery and gold items. Officers were immediately deployed to assist in searches, and lost property was recovered in four cases. In another four, the units concerned were severely damaged and residents believed after investigation that the property might have been destroyed by fire. For the remaining three cases, there were no signs of ransacking in the units and the residents could not provide details on the concerned property.
After reviewing the experience from the first day of arrangements, two adjustments have been made on site starting today:
(1) expanding the personal protective equipment donning area at Kwong Fuk Community Hall, adding more tables and chairs, and setting up more marquees for rain protection; and
(2) adding more tables and chairs in the resident waiting area at Tai Po Baptist Public School, and expanding the on-site storage area to facilitate residents while they wait for transport.
Each day, the Government deploys over 1 000 personnel from various departments, including the Police, the Civil Aid Service, the Fire Services Department, the Auxiliary Medical Service, the Home Affairs Department, the Social Welfare Department, the Housing Department, and the Housing Bureau, and staff mobilised from other departments, as well as District Services and Community Care Teams members to fully support residents returning to their units.
Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Government concludes second-day arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
