Seven Hong Kong pharmacies named and shamed by consumer watchdog for overcharging mainland Chinese tourists

Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has named and shamed seven pharmacies it accuses of “disgraceful” trade practices after several mainland Chinese tourists were overcharged for goods in transactions worth more than HK$1.5 million.

The most outrageous case involved a mainland Chinese tourist being charged more than HK$150,000 for crushed pearl powder in May. Upon mediation by the council, the tourist was later refunded about two thirds of the bill.

The council’s revelations followed a complaint last month about a mainland Chinese tourist being charged almost HK$40,000 for two bottles of “Hei Gui You” medicated oil – about 100 times the rate at other retailers.

The seven pharmacies – five in Causeway Bay, two in Mong Kok – accounted for about 127 of some 530 complaints about drugstores lodged to the council this year, mostly over unscrupulous sales practices. Just 35 cases were resolved.

“In the face of complaints, some traders refused to be responsible and adopted an uncooperative attitude,” said council chairman Professor Wong Yuk-shan. “Worse still, they continued to adopt such undesirable trade practices detrimental to consumer interests.”