Hong Kong Customs Increases Patrols for Consumer Protection During Labour Day Golden Week of Mainland

Hong Kong Customs steps up consumer protection work during Labour Day Golden Week of Mainland

With the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland approaching, Hong Kong Customs has stepped up patrols at popular shopping spots in various districts since yesterday (April 29) and reminded traders to comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO), with a view to safeguarding rights of local consumers and visitors.

Apart from patrolling popular shopping spots, Customs officers will also drive publicity at medicine shops, dried seafood and ginseng shops, jewellery shopsand hawker pitches in different tourist shopping areas such as Yau Tsim Mong, Hung Hom, To Kwa Wan and Causeway Bay. Retail shops and workers in the tourist industry will be reminded to comply with the requirements of the TDO.

Customs officers will also distribute pamphlets at land boundary control points to remind local consumers and visitors that they should patronise shops with a good reputation.Consumers should have a good understanding of a product's specifications and make comparisons before purchase.They are also reminded to check carefully the total price and unit price of the goods before making a payment, and to retain transaction receipts and related recordswhich can be served as the basis in case a complaint is lodged in the future.Consumers are additionally reminded to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.

Customs is concerned about visitors being misled into making purchases by unfair trade practices, and has established a Quick Response Team to handle urgent complaints lodged by short-term visitors. The complaints will be promptly referred to investigators to handle with priority.

Under the TDO, any trader who adopts unfair trade practices, including making false trade descriptions in relation to goods, misleading omissions, aggressive commercial practices as well as bait and switch practices, or 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 suspected violations of the TDO 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).

With the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland approaching, Hong Kong Customs has stepped up patrols at popular shopping spots in various districts since yesterday (April 29) and reminded traders to comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO), with a view to safeguarding rights of local consumers and visitors. Photo shows Customs officers distributing pamphlets at Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok, and reminding a hawker stall trader to comply with the requirements of the TDO. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

With the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland approaching, Hong Kong Customs has stepped up patrols at popular shopping spots in various districts since yesterday (April 29) and reminded traders to comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, with a view to safeguarding rights of local consumers and visitors. Photo shows Customs officers distributing pamphlets at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

With the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland approaching, Hong Kong Customs has stepped up patrols at popular shopping spots in various districts since yesterday (April 29) and reminded traders to comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, with a view to safeguarding rights of local consumers and visitors. Photo shows Customs officers distributing pamphlets at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

With the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland approaching, Hong Kong Customs has stepped up patrols at popular shopping spots in various districts since yesterday (April 29) and reminded traders to comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, with a view to safeguarding rights of local consumers and visitors. Photo shows Customs officers conducting publicity and education work, as well as distributing pamphlets in Causeway Bay. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

With the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland approaching, Hong Kong Customs has stepped up patrols at popular shopping spots in various districts since yesterday (April 29) and reminded traders to comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, with a view to safeguarding rights of local consumers and visitors. Photo shows Customs officers conducting publicity and education work, as well as distributing pamphlets in Causeway Bay. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

With the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland approaching, Hong Kong Customs has stepped up patrols at popular shopping spots in various districts since yesterday (April 29) and reminded traders to comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, with a view to safeguarding rights of local consumers and visitors. Photo shows Customs officers distributing pamphlets in Tsim Sha Tsui. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

With the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland approaching, Hong Kong Customs has stepped up patrols at popular shopping spots in various districts since yesterday (April 29) and reminded traders to comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, with a view to safeguarding rights of local consumers and visitors. Photo shows Customs officers stepping up patrols at medicine shops in Causeway Bay. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO Berlin promotes Hong Kong as premier gateway for international co-operation at Economic Forum in Karpacz

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) promoted Hong Kong's unique advantages and business opportunities at the 35th Economic Forum in Karpacz, Poland, from September 8 to 10 (Karpacz time).

The Economic Forum held annually in Karpacz is one of the largest conferences in Central and Eastern Europe, attracting over 6 000 leaders, experts, and decision-makers. The theme of the Forum this year is "Architecture of the New Order - Stability in Times of Change", and there is a dedicated Chinese-Polish Forum. The HKETO Berlin promoted Hong Kong's unique roles and advantages in facilitating investment as well as promoting the Belt and Road Initiative.

Speaking at the panel session of the Forum, the Director of the HKETO Berlin, Mr Indiana Wong, outlined Hong Kong's crucial position as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" between the Chinese Mainland and the world. Hong Kong serves as a vital bridge by connecting the Chinese Mainland with global markets through its common law system, free flow of capital, and world-class professional services.

"Global business turns to Hong Kong for wide-ranging, long-term opportunities. Hong Kong is the ideal place for international fundraising, and enterprises can scale up through our financing and professional services. Last year, Hong Kong topped the world in both initial public offering volume and funds raised. Investors and businesses can leverage on Hong Kong's strengths as one of the major hubs for initial public offerings."

Mr Wong added that with significant resources devoted to innovation and technology development over the years, Hong Kong has emerged as an international innovation and technology centre, and a regional powerhouse supporting the development of financial technology, AI, life and health sciences, and advanced manufacturing. He also highlighted Hong Kong's significant role in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative through its extensive network of trade and investment promotion partners.

"Hong Kong is a key node and premier international platform for Belt and Road co-operation between China and Central and Eastern Europe. For Central and Eastern European technology firms, start-ups, and research institutions, Hong Kong offers a dynamic environment for piloting products, raising capital, and forging strategic partnerships that extend across the Chinese Mainland and Asia markets," he said.

About HKETO Berlin

HKETO Berlin is the official representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Germany as well as Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

HKETO Berlin promotes Hong Kong as premier gateway for international co-operation at Economic Forum in Karpacz Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO Berlin promotes Hong Kong as premier gateway for international co-operation at Economic Forum in Karpacz Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases