The closure of gym chain Physical Fitness dominated the Consumer Council’s annual Top 10 Consumer News, capturing over half of the votes. The council announced the results on Wednesday, highlighting a record turnout of 14,429 voters this year.

“At the top of the list with over half of the votes — 7,934 votes — was the closure of Physical Fitness, which prompted more than 5,000 consumer complaints, amounting to nearly HK$200 million,” the watchdog said.

In second place was football star Lionel Messi’s disappointing absence from the Inter Miami exhibition match in February last year, garnering 4,552 votes. 

The suspension of the Municipal Solid Waste Charging Scheme after its demonstration phase came in third with 4,409 votes.

Messi’s saga was also voted the “Most Outrageous” consumer news, receiving 9,440 votes — 65 percent of the total — in one of the “Hot Topic” categories.

Other notable entries in the top 10 included the regulation of disposable plastic tableware, the closure of fermented tofu brand Liu Ma Kee, the lift of demand-side measures for residential properties, Basic

Housing Units, the rising northbound consumption trend, the “panda economy,” and public transport fare hikes.

Clement Chan Kam-wing, the council’s chairman, urged consumers to think twice before signing pre-paid service contracts amid the economic downturn, referencing the closures of Physical Fitness and Liu Ma Kee.

He also said that the number of inbound visitors last year had gradually increased, leading to more diversified consumption patterns.

As the government develops a “mega event economy,” Chan called on event organizers to learn from the mistakes highlighted by Messi’s saga, which triggered significant consumer complaints.

(Eunice Lam)