Hong Kong Customs Seizes $64 Million in Counterfeit Goods During Operation Dawnbreaker

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit goods worth about $64 million in "Dawnbreaker" operation

Hong Kong Customs conducted a three-week enforcement operation codenamed "Dawnbreaker" from March 9 to 27 to combat counterfeit and infringing goods activities involving cross-boundary transshipments and local deliveries. During the operation, Customs detected 37 related cases and seized about 110 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods with a total estimated market value of about $64 million. Three persons were arrested.

Through intelligence analysis and in-depth investigation, Customs detected a number of related cases at various local logistics companies. Customs officers identified about 20 logistics companies in the New Territories and carried out strike-and-search operations,seizing the suspected counterfeit goods, including watches, mobile phone accessories, bags, clothing and footwear.

After follow-up investigations, Customs believes that some of the suspected counterfeit goods would have been sold locally while the rest would have been re-exported to overseas destinations. Customs officers also organised two controlled delivery operations in respect of two batches of seized items. First, Customs officers on March 19 arrested a 56-year-old male consignee at a warehouse in Kwun Tong suspected of operating an online shopping group. Upon investigation, about 140 items of suspected counterfeit goods, including bags, belts and footwear, with an estimated value of about $36,000, were seized inside the warehouse. A 25-year-old female in charge of the shopping group was also arrested the following day.

Later, Customs officers on March 26 seized about 1 600 items of suspected counterfeit goods, including perfume and cosmetics, with an estimated market value of about $230,000, in a unit of an industrial building in Kwai Chung. A 36-year-old male director was arrested.

Investigations of the above-mentioned cases are ongoing. All arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation.

Customs appeals to consumers to purchase goods at reputable shops or websites to avoid buying counterfeit goods. Practitioners in the logistics industry should also comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO) and should check with the trademark owners or 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.

Customs will continue to step up inspections and conduct intelligence-led enforcement to vigorously combat different types of counterfeit and infringing goods activities.

Under the TDO, any person who imports or exports or sells or possesses for sale any goods to which a forged trademark is applied 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 seizes suspected counterfeit goods worth about $64 million in "Dawnbreaker" operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit goods worth about $64 million in "Dawnbreaker" operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit goods worth about $64 million in "Dawnbreaker" operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Lands Department issues three pre-sale consents in first quarter of 2026

The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (April 9) that three pre-sale consents for residential developments involving 648 residential units were issued in the first quarter of 2026.

Details of the above residential developments (one of which is a phased development) with pre-sale consents issued are as follows:

Expected year of completion

Developments

2026

One phase of a development in Kai Tak (140 units)

One development in Kowloon Tong (46 units)

2027

One development in Tsuen Wan (462 units)

The LandsD also issued six consents to assign in the first quarter, involving a total of 2 535 residential units in two developments in Tseung Kwan O and Wong Chuk Hang (each involving two phases), as well as two commercial units in two phased developments in Wong Chuk Hang and Tai Po respectively.

As at March 31, 2026, 29 applications for pre-sale consent for residential developments involving 9 954 residential units were being processed. Details are as follows:

Expected year of completion

No. of applications

No. of residential units involved

2026

2

1 043

2027

14

3 571

2028

9

3 604

2029

4

1 736

In addition, three applications for consent to assign involving 912 residential units and two non-residential units respectively as well as two applications for pre-sale consent for non-residential developments were being processed.

Members of the public can obtain up-to-date information on consents issued for the past quarter and cases pending approval by visiting the LandsD’s website (www.landsd.gov.hk).

Intending purchasers are advised to study carefully the details of the development and the sale procedures, through information available from public advertisements, sales brochures and price lists released by the developer, before making a deposit for purchase. The sales brochure for a development also contains a summary of the provisions of the Deed of Mutual Covenant, including information on the common parts, the number of undivided shares assigned to each unit, the term of years for which the manager is appointed, the basis on which the management expenses are shared among the owners of the units, as well as a summary of the provisions of the government land grant, which intending purchasers are recommended to read carefully.

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