Beauty, gym contracts-tightening bill in first half

Algernon Yau, Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, aims to introduce amendments to the Legislative Council in the coming half-year. These proposed changes include a mandatory seven-day cooling-off period and a 14-day refund window for prepaid contracts sold by beauty parlors and fitness centers. The new regulations would apply to contracts exceeding three specified thresholds: HK$3,000, HK$8,000, or HK$15,000.

The duration of such contracts is capped at two years, and operators must commence services within three months of signing a contract. Following a consultation period, the government is now gathering feedback from both the industries and the public.

The fitness and beauty sectors strongly support the seven-day cooling-off period, deeming it beneficial for everyone. This practice is also common in many countries globally. However, the industries have differing opinions on the proposed thresholds, and the final amount may not be fixed at one of the suggested figures. The decision will be refined after considering their views.

Yau explained that the sectors have distinct contract amounts, necessitating further adjustments to the thresholds. The primary objective is to ensure the threshold is manageable for the industries to conduct their operations effectively. Authorities will meticulously examine the matter using median contract values and service nature, aiming to strike a balance between consumer protection and industry operational challenges.