Hong Kong to swoop on rogue retailers
HONG KONG: Tourism authorities have moved swiftly in an attempt to stamp out alleged shopping scams that have left mainland China visitors feeling cheated.
The moves come ahead of the Golden Week Labour Day holidays when mainland visitors head to Hong Kong in large numbers.
Earlier this month, a report by CCTV – the influential central TV station in China – reported that a mainland tour group had been fleeced while buying jewellery and watches that were later suspected to be either fakes or over-valued.
China’s Xinhua news agency said the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong had moved to ensure that tourists were given six months to obtain a refund on items purchased, rather than the current period of two weeks.
Also retail outlets registering for tour group business would need to agree to unconditional refunds when a customer presented a receipt for goods.
Xinhua said those outlets not complying with the new regulations would be “named and shamed”.
Hong Kong Customs has also agreed to take action by sending officers to the Chinese mainland to take statements from tourists who claimed they were cheated while shopping in Hong Kong.
Customs has also vowed to send undercover officers to check on shops, and Hong Kong police will put extra officers on the streets during the Labour Day holiday to assist tourists.
by Ian Jarrett
Ian Jarrett
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