Hong Kong Customs Seizes $1.1 Million in Counterfeit Goods, Arrests Five in Major Operation

Hong Kong Customs special operation combats sale of counterfeit goods

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 9) mounted a special enforcement operation in Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui and Sheung Shui to combat the sale of counterfeit goods, and seized about 950 items of suspected counterfeit goods and about 39 000 tablets of suspected controlled medicines with a total estimated market value of about $1.1 million. Five persons were arrested in the operation.

Customs earlier received information alleging that suspected counterfeit medicines and proprietary Chinese medicine were on sale in shops. After a comprehensive investigation and with the assistance of the trademark owners, Customs officers took enforcement action yesterday and raided four retail shops in Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui and Sheung Shui. The batch of suspected counterfeit goods, including medicines, proprietary Chinese medicines, perfumes, cosmetics and skincare products was seized. With the assistance of officers from the Department of Health, Customs also seized the batch of suspected controlled medicines at the four above-mentioned shops which do not have drug dealer licences.

During the operation, four men and one woman, aged between 29 and 48, were arrested. They comprised one company director and four salespersons.

An investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

Customs will continue to step up inspections and enforcement, and stringently combat the sale of different kinds of counterfeit goods.

Customs reminds consumers to procure goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. Traders should also be prudent in merchandising since selling counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.

Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

Hong Kong Customs special operation combats sale of counterfeit goods Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs special operation combats sale of counterfeit goods Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs special operation combats sale of counterfeit goods Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Schools and tertiary students invited to enrol in Hong Kong Flower Show student drawing competition

The Hong Kong Flower Show 2026, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will be held at Victoria Park from March 20 to 29. The Jockey Club Student Drawing Competition, one of the major activities of the flower show, will be held on March 20. Local primary and secondary school students, as well as full-time tertiary students, are welcome to take part in the competition. Applications are free of charge and will remain open until February 3.

The competition will be conducted in five categories: a Junior Section in Primary School (Primary One to Primary Three); a Senior Section in Primary School (Primary Four to Primary Six); a Junior Section in Secondary School (Form One to Form Three); a Senior Section in Secondary School (Form Four to Form Six); and a Tertiary Institution Section. The competition is scheduled from 9am to noon for primary school categories and the Tertiary Institution Section, and from 1.30pm to 4.30pm for secondary school categories on the day.

The competition will feature students' drawings of floral exhibits or garden displays in the showground with a view to enhancing awareness of conserving plants and the natural environment. Participants may use any form of drawing to illustrate the theme of the competition, "A Fragrant Journey through Hong Kong".

For details of the competition, please call 2926 3060/2302 1762 or visit the flower show webpage www.hkflowershow.hk/en/hkfs/2026/drawing.html. Primary and secondary school students should enrol through their schools, while tertiary students are required to enrol individually. Participating schools and entrants of the Tertiary Institution Section should submit applications online on or before February 3.

The upcoming flower show features "A Fragrant Journey through Hong Kong" as its main theme, with the stock as its theme flower. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust is supporting the flower show for the 14th consecutive year and has been its major sponsor since 2014.

The Hong Kong FLower Show, Photo source: FB