Hong Kong Customs strengthens enforcement against unlicensed money services on social media platforms
In recent years, Hong Kong Customs has noted an increasing trend in cases involving unlicensed money services provided through social media platforms. To effectively combat such illegal activities, Customs has intensified online patrols and enforcement efforts, and detected 23 cases of unlicensed money service operations and arrested 24 individuals in 2025, of which 22 cases involved the use of social media platforms.
During the investigation of the unlicensed money service operations, Customs discovered that in four cases, the bank accounts involved had frequent and substantial transactions of unknown sources. Upon detailed investigations, Customs arrested four bank account holders suspected of using unlicensed money services to launder money. One of the bank account holders had earlier been charged with two counts of "dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence" (commonly known as money laundering), and was convicted and sentenced to 54 months of imprisonment by the court.
Customs will continue to step up enforcement to crack down on unlicensed money service operations. Customs reminds consumers to procure services from licensed money service operators. A register of licensees is accessible from the website of Customs' Money Service Operators Licensing System at eservices.customs.gov.hk/MSOS/wsrh/001s1?request_locale=en.
Under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, a person commits an offence if he or she deals with any property knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that such property in whole or in part directly or indirectly represents any person's proceeds of an indictable offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and imprisonment for 14 years while the crime proceeds are also subject to confiscation.
Under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance, a person who wishes to operate a remittance or money changing service such as operating an electronic wallet topup service involving currency exchange needs to first obtain a licence from the Customs and Excise Department. The maximum penalty for such operators without a valid licence upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected unlicensed money service operation 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, Photo source: reference image
Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and Supreme People's Court co-organise 2nd edition of Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course
The second edition of the Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course, co-organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and the Supreme People's Court, is being held from today (January 14) to January 22. Focusing on company law, this edition will guide participants to gain a deeper understanding of Hong Kong's company law framework.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the course today, the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, said that the first edition of this course, which was held in January last year, was the inaugural programme of the Academy after its launch in 2024, and positive results had been achieved. Mr Lam expressed his gratitude to the Supreme People's Court for their continued support and trust in the Academy. He said that the course is a key initiative to implement the national policy of strengthening Mainland judges' ability to handle foreign-related cases, in line with the priorities anticipated in the 15th Five-Year Plan to be announced in March this year.
Building on the inaugural training course, this edition focuses on company law with the participation of 24 senior judges from 22 courts on the Mainland, including the Supreme People's Court and courts from 12 provinces as well as three direct-administered municipalities. The course will feature an in-depth exploration of Hong Kong's robust company law framework through lectures, dialogue sessions and interactive practices on topics such as company structures, guarantees and liquidations. Speakers of the course include Hong Kong's leading legal scholars, experts and eminent judges in the field of company law, who will share their practical insights into Hong Kong's common law system and company law. With the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year 2026 taking place this month, participants will attend this important annual legal event, and visit the courts and international legal institutions in Hong Kong to learn more about Hong Kong's development as a legal hub and a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Academy will continue to leverage the unique advantages of the "one country, two systems" principle and the Hong Kong common law system to organise more capacity-building programmes, thereby promoting judicial and legal exchanges and mutual learning between the Mainland and Hong Kong, and further contributing to the country's efforts to promote the construction of the foreign-related rule of law.
Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and Supreme People's Court co-organise 2nd edition of Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and Supreme People's Court co-organise 2nd edition of Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
