469 complaints and reports lodged over suspected closure of Hong Kong clinic
Customers of Alliance Medical Group, which offers services including vaccinations for children, shocked to discover clinics shut without warning
Nearly 470 complaints and reports have been lodged with Hong Kong authorities and the consumer watchdog over the suspected closure of a medical group, with one person prepaying as much as HK$17,000 (US$2,191) for services.
The government set up an interdepartmental task force to handle the matter as customers of the Alliance Medical Group, which offers services including prepaid vaccination packages for children, discovered on Friday that the company’s two clinics in Tsim Sha Tsui and Sha Tin had shut without warning.
A Post reporter who visited the Tsim Sha Tsui clinic, located in a commercial building on Ashley Road, saw a letter from the Consumer Council addressed to the branch general manager slipped under the door.
The Customs and Excise Department and police received 312 reports related to the clinics. Customs said it was following up with a dedicated team.
The council said it had received 157 complaints, involving HK$1,006,251. The average amount in each case was HK$6,409, but one consumer paid as much as HK$17,040 for services, only some of which had been delivered.
The council said it was “deeply concerned” about the suspected closure.