Hong Kong Customs Seizes Suspected Counterfeit Goods Worth About $64 million in "Dawnbreaker" Operation

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 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. Photo shows some of the suspected counterfeit watches seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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. Photo shows some of the suspected counterfeit jerseys seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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. Photo shows some of the suspected counterfeit goods seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Rates and Government rent due April 30

Demands for rates and/or Government rent for the quarter from April to June 2026 have been issued, and payment should be made by April 30,2026.

The Rating and Valuation Department (RVD), Photo source: reference image

The demands have reflected the rates concession for this quarter, subject to a ceiling of $500 for each rateable tenement. Any unused concession cannot be used to offset outstanding rates in other quarters. There is no concession for Government rent.

The demands show the rateable values following the 2026-27 General Revaluation. The new rateable values are also available on the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD)'s website. Members of the public wishing to object to the new rateable values must lodge a proposal by May 31. They can lodge a proposal by submitting an electronic form (Form e-R20A) using the Electronic Submission of Formson the RVD's website, or submitting a completed specified form (Form R20A) to the RVD in person or by post. The demands must be paid by the last day for payment shown on the demands, whether or not a proposal has been lodged.

Payment can be made:

(1) by using autopay, the Faster Payment System (FPS), PPS, Internet banking or bank automated teller machines (ATMs);

(2)by uploading an e-Cheque/e-Cashier Order via the Pay e-Cheque portal;

(3) by sending a crossed cheque to the Treasury, PO Box No. 28000, Sham Shui Po Post Office, Hong Kong (mail with insufficient postage will be rejected); or

(4)in person at any post office or designated convenience store in Hong Kong (i.e. 7-Eleven, Circle K or U select). For the addresses and opening hours of post offices, please call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline on 2921 2222 or visit its website.

If payers have not received the demands, they may obtain replacement demands or enquire as to the amount payable by (i) visiting the RVD's website; (ii) calling 2152 0111; (iii) faxing 2152 0113; or (iv) visiting the RVD, 15/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon.

Non-receipt or late receipt of the demand does not alter the requirement that the total amount due must be paid by April 30, 2026. A surcharge of 5 per cent will be imposed for late payment. A further surcharge of 10 per cent will be levied on the amount (including the 5 per cent surcharge) which remains unpaid six months after the last day for payment.

For payment by autopay, the rates and/or Government rent will be debited from payers' bank accounts on April 30, 2026. Payers should ensure that there are sufficient funds in their bank accounts to meet the payments on that date until settlement.

To support environmental protection, payers are encouraged to utilise the RVD's free eRVD Bill service to receive e-bills and make payments, and to settle bills by autopay or other means of e-payment (e.g. FPS, PPS, Internet banking, e-Cheque/e-Cashier Order or ATMs) to save queuing time. Application forms for autopay can be obtained by downloading from the RVD's website, visiting the RVD, District Offices and banks or by calling 2152 0111.

Photo source: reference image