Consumer Council Urges Honest Trade as Medicine Complaints Rise for Third Year
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's Consumer Council reported that complaints about drugs, medicinal herbs and health products have risen for three consecutive years since 2023, reaching 5,107 cases, with 25 percent involving unfair sales practices . The Council documented two particularly egregious cases involving tourists who were misled by misleading product packaging and deceptive pricing units at local medicine shops . Secretary-General of the Consumer Council Sam Chiu emphasized the importance of consumers retaining official receipts and remaining vigilant against common deceptive tactics .
Key Points
- A tourist purchased several medicated oils and medicines at Store A for approximately 250 HKD, later discovering one product featured birds rather than angels on its packaging .
- The same tourist found that a medicated oil had less than six months before expiration, far short of the typical three-year shelf life .
- Another tourist at Store D was charged 22,400 HKD for "Black Joint Grass" after staff switched the pricing unit from "jin" to "qian" without disclosure .
- The second tourist ultimately paid 11,000 HKD, which was 160 times the expected price for half a jin of the herb .
- Following a Customs investigation, the Store D staff member was convicted and sentenced to 120 hours of community service, plus 11,000 HKD in compensation .
Why It Matters
With approximately 40 percent of complaints originating from visitors, these deceptive practices risk tarnishing Hong Kong's reputation as a premier shopping destination for traditional medicine and health products . The Consumer Council's call for industry self-regulation comes at a critical time when tourist confidence in local retailers must be strengthened to sustain the retail sector's recovery.
With approximately 40 percent of complaints originating from visitors, these deceptive practices risk tarnishing Hong Kong's reputation as a premier shopping destination for traditional medicine and health products . The Consumer Council's call for industry self-regulation comes at a critical time when tourist confidence in local retailers must be strengthened to sustain the retail sector's recovery.