Rogue Hong Kong pharmacies targeting tourists

Pharmacies are springing up at tourist areas in Hong Kong in order to peddle counterfeit medicines to visitors from mainland China, according to the regional government.

The Hong Kong Special Autonomous Region (HKSAR) said that customs have received 232 complaints in the last three years about pharmacies selling fake proprietary medicines - including traditional Chinese medicine brands - leading to 54 prosecutions and 55 convictions of individuals or companies.

In addition, over the same period the Consumer Council received 78 complaints and there were five lodged with Hong Kong's Tourist Board.

HKSAR had been responding to a question by Gregory So, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, who had expressed concerns that Hong Kong's role as a retail hub for mainland Chinese visitors could be damaged as a result.

There have been suggestions that Hong Kong police were relying on mediation to handle cases and were not initiating investigations and pursuing prosecutions.