Eating near the crew hotels in Hong Kong

The 10 per cent service charge is standard, and the Consumer Council's advice to restaurants is to display it clearly on menus, at entrances and exits and other prominent locations, or to have staff explain it when customers arrive or order.

Where a discount or promotion applies, ask whether the service charge is calculated on the original price or the discounted one. The Council's first illustrated case is exactly this: a 10 per cent charge worked out on the original price rather than the offer price.

Compulsory extras beyond the service charge are common. The Council specifically tells consumers to check whether a restaurant imposes surcharges such as tea and condiments, and to clarify compulsory charges before deciding to order.

Rounding up the bill is not a default entitlement. Where it is not clearly indicated and the consumer is not aware of it in advance, the Council's position is that the trader may only round down or charge the exact bill, not round up and charge more.

A set menu described as a minimum for two people may in fact be priced per person: the Council cites a menu reading HK$988 per person that diners took to mean one meal for two. Unclear promotional wording can put a restaurant in breach of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, which is worth knowing if you are being asked to pay something you did not agree to.