The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has learnt that exhibitors have been receiving invitations from FAIR GUIDE (owned by CONSTRUCT DATA) for listings in its guide at the exhibitors' expense. The HKTDC would like to point out that the FAIR GUIDE and the company CONSTRUCT DATA have no connection with the HKTDC or any of our fairs. You should exercise due diligence and care when being approached for such invitations so as to avoid possible unwarranted and/or unnecessary financial commitments. In order to protect your own interests, you are urged to read the contracts (including the small print) and attachments carefully before signing any such documents.

The Austrian and UK Governments have been made aware of CONSTRUCT DATA's activities. The advice from the UK Embassy in Austria and the Austrian Embassy in London is to ignore CONSTRUCT DATA's invitations to be listed in its guide and/or requests for payment. In 2006, a German Court affirmed that CONSTRUCT DATA's unsolicited invitations are formulated in such a way that there is an intention to deceive and contravenes German law.

Latest update (March 2007) – According to a report on UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) and a link to the website: "Stop The European City Guide" (http://www.stopecg.org), an injunction has been sought against CONSTRUCT DATA by the Protective Association against Unfair Competition in Austria ("PAAUC") in Jan 2006. CONSTRUCT DATA has recently signed an out of court settlement with PAAUC, in which CONSTRUCT DATA agreed: 1. to cease the mailing of misleading contracts to the EU, Switzerland and EWR (affiliate States of the EU) (please see: http://www.stopecg.org for the list of countries covered); and 2. to cancel their demands of money against companies who dispute the contracts.

It has also been reported that the settlement contains a loophole whereby if a company does not notify them that they signed the form in error, CONSTRUCT DATA can technically continue to demand money from the companies in question. "Stop the European City Guide" has posted a sample of Notification Letter at its website for affected companies which have signed contracts with CONSTRUCT DATA in error.

It should be noted that the above settlement only covers a number of European countries. You are urged not to sign any materials that you receive from CONSTRUCT DATA and if you have mistakenly entered into a contract with CONSTRUCT DATA, you may wish to ignore any demands for payment you receive from them as suggested by the Austrian and UK Governments. If you have mistakenly entered into a contract with CONSTRUCT DATA, you should notify CONSTRUCT DATA in writing accordingly and inform them that you dispute the validity of the contract on the basis of mistake and/or misrepresentation. In any event, you are strongly advised to seek independent legal advice before signing any documents issued by or sending any money to CONSTRUCT DATA. Further details on the activities of CONSTRUCT DATA can be found at The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry website: http://www.ufi.org/pages/thetradefairsector/fairguide.asp and latest updates at http://www.stopecg.org

Please contact Ms Megan Fung, Marketing Officer, Exhibitions on (852) 2240-4146 or Fax: (852) 2169-9518 if you have questions.

Hong Kong Trade Development Council