Guangdong has unveiled draft regulations that will restaurants to clearly disclose cover charges such as the tea fees in dim sum restaurant before customers place their orders.

The "honest pricing" guidelines for catering, retail and accommodation sectors, drafted by Guangdong Provincial Market Supervision and Administration Bureau, are currently open for public feedback until Dec 24, 2025.

The proposed rules address long-standing consumer complaints, particularly the opaque charging of tea fees. This practice, while traditional in Cantonese tea culture, has expanded to various eateries, often leading to surprises on final bills when fees are not stated upfront.

The guidelines mandate that all such additional fees must be clearly communicated and their standards publicized prior before customers give their orders.

For the catering sector, prices must be displayed via menus or electronic screens, and set meals must list included dishes and their individual prices. For retailers, member and non-member prices must be displayed in the same font size to prevent misleading promotions. Accommodation providers must clearly price and actively inform guests of extra charges for items like minibar drinks or parking upon check-in.

ALSO READ: Service robots revitalize GBA’s hotel industry

The regulations also protect merchants, stating that online platform operators are prohibited from forcing merchants to offer below-cost prices, thereby helping to maintain fair competition.

The public is invited to comment on the drafts via email or post.