Hong Kong consumers faced a barrage of shoddy deals and outright scams in 2024, from oversold fitness packages and dubious beauty salons to fury over a football superstar’s absence and an abortive waste disposal scheme.
The Post recounts some of the biggest cases that hit consumers this year.
Messi no-show
The year’s first major consumer controversy was a fiasco over Lionel Messi’s failure to play in an exhibition game in February. The Argentine’s highly anticipated visit to Hong Kong with his club, Inter Miami, left many fans feeling cheated and outraged.
Despite paying ticket prices of up to HK$4,880 (US$628), spectators for the match between the American club and a Hong Kong team were scandalised that he remained on the bench throughout the game. Messi later said he had not played because of an injury.
The government spent the following weeks demanding answers from the player, his team and organiser Tatler Asia. The incident also struck a blow to the city’s early push to become a hub for mega-events.
The organiser later offered a 50 per cent refund to ticket holders, but also asked them to sign a waiver stating they would not pursue any legal action against Tatler Asia. It also withdrew its application for a HK$16 million (US$2 million) government grant.
