Under the proposed amendments to the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, the new requirements would apply to contracts meeting one of three proposed thresholds: HK$3,000 or above, HK$8,000 or above, or HK$15,000 or above.
The duration of beauty and fitness service contracts would be capped at two years, and operators would have to begin providing services within three months of signing a contract.
Speaking on an RTHK radio programme on Saturday, Yau said the government was now collating views from the industries and the public following a consultation period that ended last month.
“With regard to the cooling-off period, the fitness and beauty industries feel that it benefits everyone,” he said.
“They strongly support a seven-day cooling-off period and think seven days is sufficient.
“This also follows the practices in many countries and economies internationally. We believe this is also feasible to implement.”
However, Yau said the industries have different views on the proposed thresholds.
He said the final threshold may not be fixed at one of the proposed amounts and will be studied further.
“Because fitness and beauty are actually two different industries, their contract amounts are very different,” Yau said.
“So now we are gathering views from the industries and will make adjustments. The main thing is that the amount must be able to help the industries do the business they are engaged in.”
Yau said authorities would study the issue in detail using median contract values and the nature of services, stressing that the government is seeking to balance protecting consumer rights with accommodating the industries’ operational difficulties.
Asked whether operators might split contracts to evade regulation, he stressed that the amended provisions would regulate contracts involving the same service.
However, signing contracts for different services at the same time – such as, for example, one for facial and another for manicures with the same merchant – would not contravene the rules.
After the study is completed, Yau hopes to submit the proposed legislative amendments to the Legislative Council for passage as soon as possible.
