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Consumer protection in Hong Kong

A Hong Kong watchdog has urged travel platforms to appoint staff to ensure they comply with privacy regulations. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong economy

30% of travel platforms fail to state data retention policies: Hong Kong watchdog

Watchdog reviews privacy policies of 10 travel platforms, finds three have yet to add data retention sections after being contacted.

Cop29

Letters | Conflict of interest should have ruled out Azerbaijan as Cop29 host

Hong Kong society

These Hong Kong eatery chains won’t let you use your own takeaway container

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Hong Kong society

Hong Kong watchdog finds fragrance allergens in 12 laundry scent boosters

Consumer Council calls for possible labelling rules and finds four products contain chemical compound that can affect marine life.

The watchdog has said it will be worthwhile for the government to conduct studies on the fragrance products. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong consumer watchdog receives 529 complaints in 10 months over concerts

Denial of refunds, unclear arrangements for meeting performers and obstructed views among cases received by Consumer Council.

Hong Kong

Would cooling-off period stop Hongkongers from being burned by gym hard sell?

Customers of failed fitness chain Physical say they prepaid large amounts for services to be used over many years.

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Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Viagra kick? Coffee with erectile dysfunction drug triggers Hong Kong warning

Department of Health says tests show Firstwell Tongkat Ali Premix Coffee contains sildenafil, an undeclared controlled drug ingredient.

Firstwell Tongkat Ali Premix Coffee is made in Malaysia, according to its packaging. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Shady practices at Hong Kong pain relief, ‘bone-manipulating’ centres spotlighted

Just three convictions due to grey areas in adverts for pain-management services, official says.

Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong buses under fire as most complained about public transport service

Public buses subject of more than 4,000 complaints in second quarter of 2024, increasing by 24.6 per cent year on year.

Hong Kong courts

Probiotic maker sues Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog over ‘defamatory’ report

IPC Works Limited files lawsuit against Consumer Council after watchdog publishes report saying PicoLabb product contained harmful bacteria.

The company behind PicoLabb alleged the watchdog had failed to differentiation between the TH 10 strain used in its product and the general bacteria strand. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong

Hong Kong McDonald’s ‘not impacted by E coli outbreak linked to burgers in US

Company says ‘issue does not impact McDonald’s operations in Hong Kong in any way’.

According to McDonald’s menu in Hong Kong, it does not serve the Quarter Pounder. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Banking & finance

Letters | Hong Kong is playing the long game in digital asset regulation

Readers discuss the city’s ambition to be a regulatory hub for institutional digital assets, the difficult road to Mandarin competency, and supermarket shrinkflation.

Hong Kong economy

Outside In | For Hong Kong’s poorest, cheapflation hits harder than shrinkflation

Worryingly, prices are rising faster for cheap products than premium items as AI boosts retailers’ dynamic pricing abilities.

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Hong Kong

Hong Kong watchdog urges retailers to relax restrictions on e-gift cards

Consumer Council finds discrepancies in policies for cards sold by 10 retailers, in areas such as purchase methods, expiry dates and refunds.

Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has logged around 40 complaints related to e-gift cards every year since 2021. Photo: SCMP
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong watchdog uncovers widespread shrinkflation among supermarket products

Consumer Council finds weight or volume of large majority of surveyed supermarket products cut by as much as 30 per cent while maintaining prices.

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Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has urged retailers to be more transparent in the way they displayed changes in packaging or unit prices of items. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong

No antioxidant acid found in 1 of 17 vitamin C serums tested: Hong Kong watchdog

Product by South Korean brand Missha has no ascorbic acid, while many others also over-reported quantities of antioxidant ingredient.

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s Perfit gym offers 3-year deals to clients of scandal-hit Physical

Customers who accept deal can use services already paid for under now-defunct Physical chain.

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War and conflict

Letters | Be warned, the pain of war lingers long after the fighting ends

Readers reflect on the scars of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, waste management solutions for Hong Kong and the ticketing scramble for next year’s Coldplay show.

Azerbaijan soldiers walk near the Lachin checkpoint, on September 26 last year. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong

Hong Kong customers with Physical beauty packages can transfer them: investor

Contracts in fitness section are still being sorted out and customers will need to wait a few more days, spokeswoman says.

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s Perfit gym reopens another branch formerly run by defunct Physical

About 30 people seen at Mong Kok gym reopened by Perface, the medical beauty firm in talks with owner of now-closed fitness giant Physical.

Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong’s MTR Corp accuses Physical of owing it HK$2.8 million in rent, fees

Corporation is seeking to recover HK$320,000, the sum remaining after deducting HK$2.48 million deposit paid by now-defunct gym chain in 2021.

Physical abruptly ended 38 years of business on September 6. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s Physical had HK$1 million but owed HK$10 million in bank loans

Government may have to settle outstanding loans it guaranteed under scheme if Physical fails to repay banks.

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Physical operated 19 fitness and beauty centres before closing down suddenly on September 6. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong gym chain Physical ordered to pay HK$146,000 in damages to 2 customers

Small Claims Tribunal orders payment for unsatisfactory services and misleading sales pitches, after gym chain fails to appear in court.

Hong Kong society

Second Hong Kong firm eyeing takeover of Physical gym chain not linked to first

Consumer Council chief says medical beauty firm Perface’s announcement on taking over gym chain an ‘important message and step’.

Hong Kong

From ‘Healthy’ to ‘Perfit’: former Physical outlet in Hong Kong renamed again

Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog says new investor in gym has been in touch.

The signs in the Wan Chai outlet have been switched to “Perfit”. Photo: SCMP
Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong BYD owners won’t void battery warranty by using other firms: watchdog

Non-authorised service providers can carry out maintenance on BYD vehicles without invalidating relevant warranties, Competition Commission says.

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BYD is the top mainland EV brand in Hong Kong. Photo: Jelly Tse
LinkedIn

Hong Kong privacy watchdog ‘concerned’ over LinkedIn’s use of data for GenAI

Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data contacts social media platform over default opt-in clause in privacy policy update.

Hong Kong society

‘85% of Hongkongers want mandatory cooling-off period for beauty, gym contracts’

Survey of over 700 people follows scandal tied to Physical gym chain, with 75 per cent of respondents wanting maximum term limits for contracts.

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Consumer protection in Hong Kong
Hong Kong's Consumer Council is a watchdog focused on consumer rights and welfare.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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