Hong Kong’s Consumer Council seeks deals with Thailand, Malaysia to improve complaints handling for online shoppers
- Extra protections sought for customers by expanding cross-border collaboration
- Complaints to city's watchdog rise by a quarter on back of huge growth in internet purchases
Customers who have been ripped off online could benefit from improved complaints handling following a move by Hong Kong’s Consumer Council to expand cross-border cooperation.
The head of the watchdog is hoping to strike a deal with the Thai or Malaysian authorities in a bid to improve dispute resolution between customers and companies relating to overseas internet purchases.
The plan would bring the number of jurisdictions collaborating with the city on customer disputes to at least five.
Travel purchases account for a significant proportion of online shopping complaints by Hong Kong residents. Shoppers often not do not realise they are using foreign websites and then struggle to have their grievances dealt with under different systems, according to consumer champions.
Chief Executive Gilly Wong Fung-han said Thailand and Malaysia were both popular destinations for Hongkongers, with large numbers emigrating to the latter, increasing the likelihood of local shoppers locking horns with online sellers in those countries.
