Short weight: Seven seafood stall operators allegedly selling crabs tied with excess weed will be prosecuted for breaching the Weights & Measures Ordinance.

Seven seafood stall operators allegedly selling crabs tied with excess weed will be prosecuted for breaching the Weights & Measures Ordinance.

Undercover Customs & Excise Department officers bought crabs in Tuen Mun, Sheung Shui, Mong Kok and Kwun Tong marketplaces several times last month. They revealed their identities and checked the crabs with electronic scales after the transactions. The crabs were tied up with excessive weed and the officers suspected their net weight was short of the purporting weight.

Laboratory results showed the crabs' net weight was allegedly 13% to 47% less than the purporting weight.

Under the ordinance, anyone who in the course of trade supplies goods by weight or measure, should supply the goods in net weight or net measure. Any shortage of quantity purporting to be supplied is an offence liable to a $10,000 fine.