Dishonest chestnut and sweet potato hawkers fined

Six itinerant hawkers who pleaded guilty to selling short-weight chestnuts or sweet potatoes in the first three months of this year were fined from $500 to $3,000.

Officers of the Customs and Excise Department posing as customers have been conducting test buys of chestnuts or sweet potatoes from a number of itinerant hawkers in various districts throughout the territory including Sai Wan Ho, Quarry Bay, Wan Chai, Jordan, Sham Shui Po, Cheung Sha Wan, Lai Chi Kok, Tsuen Wan, Tai Po and Sheung Shui.

Subsequent examinations by the Government Laboratory found that the shortage between the net weight and the purported weight of the goods sold ranged from 6% to 18%.

"The Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against short-weight activities to protect consumers' interests and to uphold a fair trading environment," the spokesman added.