Hong Kong Customs Seizes Suspected Counterfeit Goods Worth About $159 Million Related to World Cup

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit goods worth about $159 million in "Clean Sheet" operation

With a view to combating counterfeit goods activities related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup involving cross-boundary transshipments and online sales, Hong Kong Customs conducted an enforcement operation codenamed "Clean Sheet" between May 26 and yesterday (July 19). A total of 50 related cases were detected and about 240 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods, with a total estimated market value of about $159 million, were seized.

During the operation, 13 local men, aged between 15 and 59, were arrested.

Investigations into the cases are ongoing, and the arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation. The likelihood of further arrests has not been ruled out.

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 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).

With a view to combating counterfeit goods activities related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup involving cross-boundary transshipments and online sales, Hong Kong Customs conducted an enforcement operation codenamed "Clean Sheet" between May 26 and yesterday (July 19). A total of 50 related cases were detected and about 240 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods, with a total estimated market value of about $159 million, were seized. Thirteen persons were arrested during the operation. Photo shows some of the suspected counterfeit goods seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme open for applications

The Education Bureau (EDB) announced that the Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme (MUSSS) 2026/27 will be open for applications from eligible Hong Kong students from today (July 21) until September 21.

A spokesman for the EDB said that MUSSS would benefit Hong Kong students pursuing undergraduate studies in 217 designated Chinese Mainland institutions, including 165 institutions participating in the Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions for the 2026/27 academic year.

Eligible students may apply for a means-tested subsidy (only for those students who have passed the means test) or a non-means-tested subsidy under MUSSS. The subsidy under MUSSS is granted on a yearly basis, and the subsidised period covers the normal duration of the undergraduate programme pursued by the student concerned in the designated Chinese Mainland institution. Eligible applicants may only receive either a means-tested subsidy or a non-means-tested subsidy in the same academic year. MUSSS is not subject to any quota. It is envisaged that MUSSS will benefit most Hong Kong students who are pursuing undergraduate studies on the Chinese Mainland and have different financial needs.

The subsidy under MUSSS will be disbursed based on the distance between the locations of the institutions and Hong Kong, which will be grouped into three categories. Details of the subsidy rates under the different categories are set out in the Annex.

Details of MUSSS are available on the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/musss). Eligible students are required to submit their applications via the MUSSS Electronic Application Platform (musss.edb.gov.hk) or send the completed application forms by post to the EDB on or before September 21. The EDB expects to notify applicants of the application results in phases from the first quarter of 2027.

Source: AI-found images