Company director arrested over yoga chain closure

Customs officers have apprehended a 61-year-old company director in connection with the sudden closure of the yoga chain Hotstone Yoga. The individual faces accusations of "wrongly accepting payment" in violation of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. Authorities stated they had received ongoing reports from residents expressing difficulties in using prepaid services following the chain's announcement of an immediate shutdown on Wednesday.

As of 5pm on Friday, customs had recorded 381 complaints totaling nearly HK$4.1 million, with individual losses reaching around HK$46,000. Chong Kai-shing, the Divisional Commander of the Unfair Trade Practice Investigation Division, stated that the investigation was ongoing and did not preclude additional arrests. He emphasized that the investigation would focus on the merchant's operational and financial conditions prior to the closure, including the whereabouts of the funds.

Currently, the specifics are deemed inconvenient for disclosure. The Consumer Council also reported receiving 286 complaints by 5pm on Friday, with reported losses amounting to approximately HK$3.9 million.