Hong Kong Customs shuts down trading company selling counterfeit mobile phones and other electronic devices online
Hong Kong Customs mounted a special enforcement operation on July 7 and detected a case of a trading company selling counterfeit mobile phones and other electronic devices online. A total of about 5 400 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $6 million were seized. Three persons were arrested.
Customs earlier received information from a trademark owner alleging a trading company was offering counterfeit mobile phones for sale online, and an investigation was then launched. After a detailed investigation, and with the assistance of the trademark owner, Customs officers took enforcement action on July 7 and searched an office unit in Hung Hom, resulting in the seizure of the batch of suspected counterfeit goods.
During the operation, two foreign men and one foreign woman, aged between 35 and 46, were arrested under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
An investigation is ongoing, and the arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation. The likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
Customs reminds consumers to purchase goods at reputable shops or online shops and to avoid conducting transactions with suspicious traders. They should check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.
Customs strives to protect consumer rights and carries out inspections in the market and on the Internet from time to time. Moreover, Customs officers use a big-data analytics system to carry out risk assessments and analyses to verify whether online shops have complied with the TDO to help safeguard the interests of consumers during online purchases.
Under the TDO, 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 mounted a special enforcement operation on July 7 and detected a case of a trading company selling counterfeit mobile phones and other electronic devices online. A total of about 5 400 items of suspected counterfeit goods with a total estimated market value of about $6 million were seized. Photo shows some of the suspected counterfeit goods seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CE visits Sham Shui Po District to gather public views on Policy Address
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, visited Sham Shui Po District today (August 26). He toured a public housing estate and an elderly centre to listen to the views of members of the public on the 2026 Policy Address. He also visited the 1823 Contact Centre in Sham Shui Po District.
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To; and the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To, also joined relevant parts of the visit.
Accompanied by the District Officer (Sham Shui Po), Mr Oscar Wong, Mr Lee visited Un Chau Estate, where he met with an elderly resident to learn about her use of services from ambulatory care centres. Mr Lee said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been actively promoting ambulatory care services, under which suitable patients may undergo examinations and treatment with multidisciplinary support within the same day, without the need for an overnight hospital stay, before returning home to rest. Ambulatory care services help reduce unnecessary hospitalisation and provide patients with more convenient treatment and services. This could enhance the service capacity and efficiency of the public healthcare system, so that more members of the public may receive appropriate services at an early stage.
Mr Lee had earlier visited Kwong Wah Hospital to learn about the operation of its Ambulatory Orthopaedic Service Centre and the hospital's application of innovative technologies. He said that the HKSAR Government is committed to deepening healthcare reform and enhancing the quality and efficiency of public healthcare services, including the application of AI technologies in hospitals to enhance the accuracy and speed of clinical diagnoses, so that patients may receive appropriate treatment sooner. He said that the Government will continue to promote the digital upgrading of the healthcare system and actively introduce innovative technologies to further enhance the standard of public healthcare services.
Mr Lee then visited the Un Chau Estate Baptist Church Elderly Centre to learn about the various types of activities and services provided by the centre to enrich the lives of its elderly users. He said that the Government has long upheld the principle of ageing in place as the core, and has continued to strengthen support for elderly persons, including increasing the total number of Community Care Service Vouchers for the Elderly and adding three Neighbourhood Elderly Centres in last year's Policy Address to strengthen district support for the elderly.
Mr Lee then visited the 1823 Contact Centre to learn how the centre applies AI technologies to expedite the handling of public enquiries, requests for assistance and complaints. He said that 1823 has been actively applying various AI technologies in receiving and analysing public enquiries, assigning cases, analysing data and so on, so as to respond more quickly to requests for assistance and complaints from members of the public. He has asked the Digital Policy Office to continue leading 1823 in actively applying AI and other innovative technologies to continuously enhance efficiency.
Mr Lee said that the current-term Government is committed to turning policy blueprints into tangible outcomes in developing the economy and improving people's livelihood. Through district visits and meaningful exchanges with members of the public, the Government can better understand their needs and aspirations, and the insights gained will help formulate new policy initiatives. He said that he and his team will continue to listen to views from various sectors of society, so that policy measures could better address livelihood needs and the Government could dedicate its efforts in striving for a vibrant economy, pursuing development and improving people's livelihood.
Source: AI-found images
