Hong Kong chief executive looks to improve consumer protection in wake of California Fitness collapse
Leung Chun-ying says he’s open to exploring overseas legislation on sales tactics, as gym customers battle to recover payments
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has made his first response to the closure of the California Fitness gym chain, telling lawmakers on Thursday that his cabinet would try to improve consumer protection by exploring overseas examples.
He promised to follow up the gym case and look at better protection for consumers in the long run.
Answering the pro-establishment lawmaker’s question on whether Hong Kong should learn from Taiwan and legislate on pre-paid sales tactics, he said although the government had to pay attention to the issue, law enforcers had stepped in so it was not for him to discuss details of the case.
But he added: “As to how we can step up our work, including whether we should follow the example of Taiwan and other regions, this is something we can explore.”
The chief executive’s remarks came two days after JV Fitness, which runs California Fitness, mYoga, and Leap, closed all 12 branches across Hong Kong amid a winding-up petition and financial uncertainties.
