Hong Kong Customs officers have arrested two saleswomen at a medicine shop suspected to have supplied a false trade description for a proprietary medicine.

This is regarded as an unfair trade practice in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

The arrests followed Customs officers doing a test buy at the shop, in To Kwa Wan. After the two saleswomen, aged 32 and 42, said the product was a particular brand of medicine, they were taken into custody.

As the investigation continues, the arrested women have been released on bail.

Under the TDO, anyone who applies a false trade description to goods or services commits an offence and faces a maximum penalty of HK$500,000 (US$64,000) and imprisonment for five years.