Hong Kong Customs special operation combats sale of counterfeit eyewear
Hong Kong Customs mounted a special enforcement operation on March 17 and 18 across the territory to combat the sale of counterfeit goods activities and seized about 2 500 items of suspected counterfeit sunglasses and glasses, with a total estimated market value of about $2.2 million. Five persons were arrested.
Customs earlier received information alleging that some retail shops were selling suspected counterfeit sunglasses. After in-depth investigations and with the assistance of the trademark owners, Customs officers took enforcement action on the aforementioned dates and raided five retail shops in Cheung Sha Wan, Kwai Shing, Tsuen Wan and Fanling, as well as a supplier in Kwun Tong, resulting in the seizure of the suspected counterfeit sunglasses and glasses.
During the operation, five men, aged between 42 and 58, were arrested. They comprised three directors and two staff members.
An investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
Customs will continue to step up inspections and enforcement to vigorously 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 cautious and 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.
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 eyewear Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product by economic activity for the fourth quarter of 2025 and the whole year of 2025
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (March 19) the preliminary figures of chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by economic activity for the fourth quarter of 2025 and the whole year of 2025.
GDP figures by economic activity show the value of production in respect of individual economic activities. The value of production is measured by value added or net output, which is calculated by deducting intermediate input consumed in the process of production from the gross value of output. Volume measures of GDP by economic activity, expressed in terms of chain volume measures net of the effect of price changes, enable analysis of the output growth profiles of individual economic sectors in real terms.
According to the preliminary figures, overall GDP increased by 3.8% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 3.7% in the third quarter. For 2025 as a whole, GDP increased by 3.5% in real terms over 2024.
Analysed by constituent services sector and on a year-on-year comparison, value added in respect of all the services activities taken together increased by 3.8% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the growth of 3.1% in the third quarter. For 2025 as a whole, value added increased by 3.2% in real terms over 2024 for all the services sectors taken together.
Value added in the import and export, wholesale and retail trades sector increased by 7.9% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 5.2% in the third quarter. For 2025 as a whole, value added in this sector recorded an increase of 6.0% in real terms.
Value added in the accommodation and food services sector increased by 1.5% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, as against the decrease of 0.9% in the third quarter. For 2025 as a whole, value added in this sector decreased by 0.5% in real terms.
Value added in the transportation, storage, postal and courier services sector increased by 4.8% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 2.2% in the third quarter. For 2025 as a whole, value added in this sector increased by 3.7% in real terms.
Value added in the information and communications sector increased by 1.8% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 0.6% in the third quarter. For 2025 as a whole, value added in this sector increased by 0.9% in real terms.
Value added in the financing and insurance sector increased by 4.9% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 5.4% in the third quarter. For 2025 as a whole, value added in this sector increased by 4.8% in real terms.
Value added in the real estate, professional and business services sector registered an increase of 0.6% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2025 over a year earlier. Value added in this sector remained virtually unchanged in the third quarter. For 2025 as a whole, value added in this sector decreased by 0.2% in real terms.
Value added in the public administration, social and personal services sector rose by 1.8% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 2.1% the third quarter. For 2025 as a whole, value added in this sector increased by 2.1% in real terms.
As for sectors other than the services sectors, value added in the local manufacturing sector increased by 5.7% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 5.3% in the third quarter. For 2025 as a whole, value added in this sector increased by 3.2% in real terms.
Value added in the electricity, gas and water supply, and waste management sector decreased by 0.8% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2025 from a year earlier, compared with the decrease of 1.7% in the third quarter. For 2025 as a whole, value added in this sector decreased by 1.2% in real terms.
Value added in the construction sector decreased by 6.4% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2025 from a year earlier, after the decrease of 8.7% in the third quarter. For 2025 as a whole, value added in this sector decreased by 7.8% in real terms.
Further information
The year-on-year percentage changes of GDP by economic activity in real terms from the fourth quarter of 2024 to the fourth quarter of 2025 are shown in Table 1. More detailed statistics are given in the report "Gross Domestic Product by Economic Activity". Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1030004&scode=250). For enquiries about statistics on GDP by economic activity, please call the National Income Branch (2) of the C&SD at 3903 7005.
Figures of chain volume measures of GDP by economic activity for the fourth quarter of 2025 and the whole year of 2025 are only preliminary at this stage. When more data become available, the preliminary figures will be revised accordingly and can be found at the C&SD website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode250.html).
Source: AI-found images
