Drugstore deception proves a bitter pill to swallow

Xu Yiyi flew to Hong Kong on Oct 27, but instead of visiting scenic spots or seeking business opportunities, the 32-year-old from Ningbo, Zhejiang province, headed straight for a drugstore where he'd been cheated of thousands of Hong Kong dollars a week before.

"Thanks to the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, the drugstore refunded all my money the next morning," said Xu, whose owns a business that exports groceries to Europe.

The trouble started when Xu visited Hong Kong from Oct 18 to 20 to attend an electronic-products fair. "My wife had never been to Hong Kong before, so I took her and our 3-year-old son along," he said.