Woman arrested for false trade: HK customs

A 39-year-old saleswoman in a Tsim Sha Tsui shop has been arrested for breaching the amended Trade Descriptions Ordinance by misleading customers, Hong Kong customs officers said Thursday.

Undercover officers bought herba dendrobii, a kind of Chinese herbal medicine, at the shop on March 10.

The woman misled shoppers into believing the unit price of the product was in taels instead of maces, resulting in a price 10 times higher than consumers would expect.

The shop also exerted pressure by grinding the goods into powder before a customer confirmed the purchase and learned the actual price.

Officers arrested the woman and seized 4.5 catties of herba dendrobii worth 470,000 HK dollars (60,567 U.S. dollars).

Customs officers reminded consumers to be cautious of unit price, and only agree to have goods processed when they are certain of buying.