Hong Kong Customs arrests company director suspected of supplying baby hair and body wash with false trade descriptions
Hong Kong Customs recently arrested a female director of a trading company suspected of supplying baby hair and body wash with false trade descriptions, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
Customs earlier received a referral from the Consumer Council alleging that the ingredients of a baby hair and body wash in the market were inconsistent with its product claim. Customs officers swiftly test-purchased the baby hair and body wash concerned from a retailer in Causeway Bay and sent samples to the Government Laboratory for examination. Examination results confirmed that the baby hair and body wash, which was labelled as free of allergenic fragrances, contained the fragrance allergen limonene at a concentration of 0.11%. Limonene possesses a citrus aroma. Limonene, when exposed to air, can oxidise into allergenic products that may trigger skin allergies in some individuals.
Customs subsequently launched a follow-up investigation to inspect retailers selling baby wash across various districts. During the operation, Customs seized a total of 34 bottles of the same baby hair and body wash from eight retail shops. A 42-year-old female director of a trading company was arrested.
An investigation is ongoing and the arrested woman has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure products at reputable shops.
Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, 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 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).
Hong Kong Customs recently arrested a female director of a trading company suspected of supplying baby hair and body wash with false trade descriptions, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. Photo shows the baby hair and body wash with suspected false trade descriptions. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs arrests company director suspected of supplying baby hair and body wash with false trade descriptions Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Joint Working Group on Commodity Trading convenes first meeting
The Joint Working Group on Commodity Trading (Working Group), led by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, held its first meeting today (September 30).
As announced in the 2026 Policy Address, the Working Group established by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau will collaborate with financial regulators to holistically identify market opportunities and prospects for cross-exchange collaboration. At its first meeting today, the Working Group held in-depth discussions on the policy directions and objectives for developing commodities trading, and explored key areas including market trends and Hong Kong's development potential. The Working Group will continue to follow up on various priority projects, with a view to formulating a clear development roadmap to build an internationally competitive commodities trading ecosystem for Hong Kong.
Mr Hui said, "As the global commodities market landscape undergoes profound evolution, we are taking proactive steps to open up new growth points while consolidating Hong Kong's existing strengths in the financial market. Leveraging Hong Kong's unique advantage of connecting the Mainland and the world under 'one country, two systems', we are taking gold as an entry point to forge ahead with the development of an international commodities trading ecosystem in alignment with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. The Working Group will thoroughly implement the strategic deployments of the Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) to transform Hong Kong into an international commodities hub that integrates trading, clearing, warehousing, pricing and financing, thereby better serving the overall national development."
The membership of the Working Group is as follows:
Chairman
——
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury
Members
——
Representative of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority
Representative of the Securities and Futures Commission
Representative of the Insurance Authority
Representative of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited
Representatives from other relevant bureaux and departments, as well as organisations such as the Hong Kong Precious Metals Central Clearing Company Limited, will attend meetings as and when necessary.
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui (centre), today (September 30) chairs the first meeting of the Joint Working Group on Commodity Trading. Also attending are the Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), Mrs Angelina Cheung (left); and the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan (right). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui (third left), today (September 30) chairs the first meeting of the Joint Working Group on Commodity Trading to have in-depth discussions with members on the policy direction and objectives for the development of commodity trading. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
