Buyers rejoice, there’s finally a plan for Hong Kong’s gyms and beauty salons to offer a cooling-off period for service contracts
The government says it will submit bill to Legco before July 2020 to regulate businesses known for strong-arming consumers into making purchases
Gyms and beauty salons in Hong Kong will likely have to offer a cooling-off period to customers purchasing service contracts, the government said on Wednesday, as it announced plans to push for a new law in the next two years.
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah on Wednesday said the government would submit a bill for Legislative Council approval before the council’s term ends in July 2020.
His proposal – which could require companies to offer full refunds if customers change their mind within a specific period – was cheered by lawmakers and rights groups who have long lobbied for better consumer protection, but beauty industry representatives were worried about increased costs.
Yau promised that a mix of views, including those from the business sector, would be taken into account when drafting the bill.
The city’s Consumer Council has for years called for a mandatory cooling-off period, as it warned customers to beware of salons and fitness centres that flattered or coerced them into spending thousands on expensive treatments and packages.