Hong Kong to swoop on rogue retailers

Friday, 19 Apr, 2007 0

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

below social share icons

Ian Jarrett

Traveltek is the world-leading provider of online solutions for the travel trade, from consumer-facing websites to call centre applications. We...

Chargebacks911 offers scalable solutions that are customized for any business of any size in any industry. With the flexibility to...

Nium was founded on the mission to build the global payments infrastructure of tomorrow, today. With the onset of the on-demand...

Greater Fort Lauderdale’s assortment of adventures awaits you. Whether you want to relax on the beach as the sound of...

Central Florida’s Polk County is conveniently located between Orlando and Tampa, and an easy drive to Central Florida attractions and...

The Mexico Tourism Board serves as the driving force behind Mexico’s global appeal, orchestrating targeted marketing campaigns to showcase the...

Philippine Airlines (PR), also known as PAL, is the Filipino flag carrier. The company started their operations in February 1941,...

Travel Outlook, the premier hotel call center™ Travel Outlook is an innovative, custom off-site central reservations office (CRO) service that...

Why Avalon Waterways: Happiness flows on an Avalon river cruise. From Asia to South America and Europe to the Nile,...

Destination British Columbia (Destination BC) is a Provincially funded, industry-led Crown corporation that supports a strong and competitive future for BC’s...

AXA Assistance specializes in best-in-class cost containment, health and travel services. Over 60 years of experience combined with a US and...

ITB Asia, Asia’s Leading Travel Trade Show, is an annually held B2B trade show and convention for the travel industry; it is designed...

Home to America’s Best Beaches, a vibrant arts community and amazing outdoor experiences, St. Pete/Clearwater is a sunny destination that...

River cruising is a treat for the senses, allowing you to see, touch, feel and experience the world like never...

IHG Hotels & Resorts: Redefining Hospitality Excellence IHG Hotels & Resorts is a globally renowned hospitality company that stands at...

Blue Diamond Resorts consistently goes above and beyond guest expectations by delivering groundbreaking vacation experiences through our exceptional collection of...