Hong Kong Customs Seizes $50 Million in Counterfeit Hard Disks, Arrests Six Individuals in Tuen Mun Operation

Hong Kong Customs special operation combats processing workshops and storages of suspected counterfeit hard disks

Hong Kong Customs mounted a special operation yesterday (October 15) in Tuen Mun to combat processing workshops and storages of suspected counterfeit hard disks, and seized about 6 800 items of suspected counterfeit hard disks with a total estimated market value of about $50 million. Six persons were arrested.

After an in-depth investigation by Customs officers and with the assistance of trademark owners, Customs took special operation yesterday and raided five industrial units in Tuen Mun. Five men and one woman were arrested, including five Mainland persons and one local person aged between 31 and 59. Large batches of suspected counterfeit hard disks, packaging materials and tools were seized.

In addition, Customs seized approximately 20 000 second-hand hard disks suspected of awaiting processing in the industrial units. It is believed that the arrested persons first purchased large quantities of second-hand hard disks and used items such as adhesive removers to remove the original labels from the second-hand hard disks. They then used specialised hard disk electronic equipment to format the hard disks, and affixed labels of various major brands, sealed them in anti-static bags, and offered them for sale.

The arrested persons have been detained for investigation. The investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

Customs will continue to step up inspection and enforcement to vigorously combat the sale of different kinds of counterfeit goods.

Customs reminds consumers to procure goods at reputable shops and check with the trademark owners or their 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.

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who forges a trademark, 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, its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs special operation combats processing workshops and storages of suspected counterfeit hard disks Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs special operation combats processing workshops and storages of suspected counterfeit hard disks Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs special operation combats processing workshops and storages of suspected counterfeit hard disks Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs special operation combats processing workshops and storages of suspected counterfeit hard disks Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs special operation combats processing workshops and storages of suspected counterfeit hard disks Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS finds samples of mung bean starch sheet and its related product not in compliance with requirement on preservative

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 16) that samples of two batches of mung bean starch sheet and its related product were found not in compliance with the requirement of the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD) (the Regulation). The CFS is following up on the incident.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: (Not available in English)

Weight: 500 grams

Manufacture dates: June 27, 2026; July 9, 2026

Place of origin: China

Sole distributor: Zhuang Ji Food Trade Company

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected two samples of mung bean starch sheet and its related product sold and supplied by the above-mentioned sole distributor for testing. The test results showed that the two samples contained sodium dehydroacetate at a level of 69 and 61 parts per million respectively, not in compliance with the requirement of the Regulation. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence."

"The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the matter concerned, and instructed it to stop selling and remove from shelves the affected batches of the product concerned, and to initiate a recall. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batches of the product immediately if they possess any of them. Members of the public and the trade may call the distributor's hotline at 3706 5528 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the affected batches of the product," the spokesman added.

According to the Regulation, sodium dehydroacetate is not allowed to be used in mung bean starch sheet. Any person who sells food not in compliance with the requirement on preservatives under the Regulation is liable upon conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

The spokesman said that based on the level of sodium dehydroacetate detected in the two samples, risk assessment showed that adverse health effects are unlikely under usual consumption.

The CFS has informed the trade, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.

Source: AI-found images