Hong Kong Customs combats unfair trade practices by postnatal care centre
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 25) arrested a female director and salesperson of a postnatal care centre suspected of having applied false trade descriptions in the course ofselling postnatal services, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
Customs earlier received information from members of the public alleging that a postnatal care centre, when selling postnatal services, had falsely claimed to have partnerships with multiple private hospitals, offering appointment-free medical consultation services, and claimed to have collaborated with a well-known restaurant to provide postnatal meals. Upon using the services, customers found that there were material differences from what the centre had promised and services delivered. Customs subsequently launched an investigation and verified with the relevant hospitals and the restaurant, all of which confirmed that they had no partnership with the postnatal care centre.
After investigation, Customs officers yesterday arrested a 40-year-old local female director and salesperson of the centre.
An investigation is ongoing and the arrested person has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure services at reputable businesses.
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).
Hong Kong Customs, Photo source: reference image
Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 26) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
Fifteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 19 as Fair (Grade 2) and six as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Shek O Beach* |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | South Bay Beach* |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | St. Stephen's Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Middle Bay Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Repulse Bay Beach* | |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach* | Hap Mun Bay Beach* |
| Butterfly Beach* | Kadoorie Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Castle Peak Beach | Pui O Beach* |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Silverstrand Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* | Trio Beach |
| Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach [Non-gazetted beach] | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Golden Beach* | |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Approach Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach* | Lido Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Ting Kau Beach* |
Compared with the grading released last week, Deep Water Bay Beach and Stanley Main Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, Trio Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2, and Big Wave Bay Beach from Grade 4 to Grade 3. Hap Mun Bay Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Approach Beach, Casam Beach, Lido Beach and Ting Kau Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3.
"The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," an EPD spokesman said.
Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.
A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the EPD's dedicated webpage on the beach water quality forecast (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast).
Note 1: Lifesaving services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 21 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from June 1. For details, please refer to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's Special Announcement (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/index.html).
Note 2: This refers to Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach which has no lifesaving service.
Source: AI-found images
