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Hong Kong Monetary Authority admits short-changing buyers of shredded banknote paperweights found to be light on cash content

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Hong Kong Monetary Authority admits short-changing buyers of shredded banknote paperweights found to be light on cash content

Buyers of paperweights made out of shredded HK$1,000 banknotes by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority have been offered their money back after it discovered the product did not contain the amount of currency promised on the label.

The paperweights – sold about six years ago – were billed as containing HK$138,000 (US$17,640) in shredded cash, but the authority on Friday admitted the labels were not accurate.

A spokesman explained the paperweights, which were sold at the authority’s information centre, contained pebbles, added to make the products heavier and “enhance their function as paperweights”, but the space for the notes had been reduced.

“The number of shredded banknotes inside each paperweight falls short of the approximate number stated on the paperweight label,” he said.

“The Hong Kong Monetary Authority apologises for any inconvenience caused.”

The paperweights were billed as containing about HK$138,000 in shredded HK$1,000 notes, but fell short of the stated amount. Photo: Shutterstock Images

The authority, the city’s central banking body, said anyone who had bought the paperweights could get a refund if they wanted.

The paperweights went on sale as early as 2017 and were made with about 138 old HK$1,000 banknotes.

The authority boasted tongue-in-cheek on the labels that the paperweights, which sold at HK$100, had a “worth of HK$138,000”.

A check by the Post found that the paperweights were still available on online marketplace platform Carousell at prices from HK$420 to HK$600.

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The city’s trade descriptions legislation was drawn up to help prevent consumers from being misled by false or incomplete information or misstatements about good on sale.

The Post has contacted the Customs and Excise Department to ask if the financial watchdog had committed a breach of the law through false advertising.

Anyone who has one of the paperweights and wants a refund should contact the information centre at 2878 1111 or by email at [email protected].

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