Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao Customs Convene IP Enforcement Meeting to Enhance Cooperation

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Cooperation Meeting convened

Hong Kong Customs, the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) and the Macao Customs Service convened the sixth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Cooperation Meeting yesterday (November 9). The Deputy Commissioner (Control and Enforcement) of Customs and Excise, Mr Mark Woo; the Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC, Mr Bi Kexin; and the Assistant Director-General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Ip Wa-chio, led respective delegations to attend the meeting in Hong Kong.

During the meeting, the three Customs administrations summarised recent enforcement outcomes of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection. Taking the 12-day joint enforcement operation conducted from July 20 to July 31 as an example, the three administrations stepped up inspections of goods destined for countries and regions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia, and eventually succeeded in combatting cross-boundary and transhipment counterfeiting activities. Through risk assessment, Hong Kong Customs in the operation targeted high-value counterfeit goods at local express couriers and logistics companies, seizing a total of about 38 000 suspected counterfeit goods, including watches, mobile phones and accessories, with a total estimated market value of about $15 million.

In addition, the three Customs administrations agreed toput forward three collaboration directions for IPR enforcement in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA): (1) to deepen targeted joint operations, conducting cross-regional joint enforcement targeting key control points and commodities; (2) to streamline multilevel intelligence communication channels by refining dual-directional intelligence feedback arrangements, thereby further enhancing the overall effectiveness of cross-boundary collaborative enforcement; and (3) to enhance communication and collaboration with rights holders by elevating IPR protection across the three administrations into a multi-party synergistic paradigm engaging law enforcement agencies, industry organisations and rights holders. The three parties will join hands to build an "IPR Protection Umbrella" for the GBA, helping more national brands expand into international markets.

The Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC delegation also visited an express operation centre in Tuen Mun to understand Hong Kong Customs' enforcement work regarding express supervision, and how the department enhances risk profiling and enforcement effectiveness through maintaining close liaison with the industry and strengthening information exchanges, thereby jointly combatting cross-boundary counterfeiting activities via express parcel channels while facilitating legitimate trade.

The Customs authorities of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao have all along placed great importance on IPR protection. In order to implement the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the three have strengthened their collaboration in IPR protection through intelligence exchanges, joint operations, and visits and exchanges since 2019. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Cooperation Meeting also serves as a valuable platform for them to summarise co-operative achievements, exchange enforcement experiences, and formulate future enforcement strategies.

Hong Kong Customs, the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) and the Macao Customs Service convened the sixth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Cooperation Meeting yesterday (November 9). Photo shows attending officers of Hong Kong Customs and the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC visiting an express operation centre in Tuen Mun. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs, the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) and the Macao Customs Service convened the sixth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Cooperation Meeting yesterday (November 9). Photo shows the Deputy Commissioner (Control and Enforcement) of Customs and Excise, Mr Mark Woo (second left), accompanying the Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC, Mr Bi Kexin (second right), to visit an express operation centre in Tuen Mun. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs, the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Macao Customs Service convened the sixth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Cooperation Meeting yesterday (November 9). Photo shows the Assistant Director-General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Ip Wa-chio, delivering a speech at the meeting. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs, the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) and the Macao Customs Service convened the sixth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Cooperation Meeting yesterday (November 9). Photo shows the Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC, Mr Bi Kexin, delivering a speech at the meeting. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs, the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) and the Macao Customs Service convened the sixth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Cooperation Meeting yesterday (November 9). Photo shows the Deputy Commissioner (Control and Enforcement) of Customs and Excise, Mr Mark Woo (front row, centre); the Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC, Mr Bi Kexin (front row, fourth left); the Assistant Director-General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Ip Wa-chio (front row, fourth right), and attending officers from the three Customs administrations. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs, the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Macao Customs Service convened the sixth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Cooperation Meeting yesterday (November 9). Photo shows the Deputy Commissioner (Control and Enforcement) of Customs and Excise, Mr Mark Woo, delivering a speech at the meeting. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Deputy Commissioner (Control and Enforcement) of Customs and Excise, Mr Mark Woo (centre); the Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, Mr Bi Kexin (left); and the Assistant Director-General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Ip Wa-chio (right), attended the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Customs Intellectual Property Enforcement Cooperation Meeting held in Hong Kong yesterday (November 9). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Northern Metropolis Financial Advisory Taskforce holds its third meeting

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Photo source: reference image

The Northern Metropolis Financial Advisory Taskforce (Taskforce), jointly established by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and The Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB), convened its third meeting today (November 10). Meeting participants included representatives from the HKMA, the HKAB, the Development Bureau, the Education Bureau (EDB), The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau and 25 participating banks in the Taskforce (see Annex).

Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

At the meeting, the EDB presented the latest development of the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT), including the positioning of the three university towns (Note), development of campus areas and related financial arrangements. Meeting participants discussed and offered professional advice on feasible financing solutions for the NMUT Area, such as loans and public-private partnerships. The participating banks in the Taskforce expressed their commitment to provide suitable financial services to support the synergistic development of the NMUT and its surrounding industry parks and projects.

To further strengthen the banking sector's financing support for Northern Metropolis (NM) projects, the HKMA proposes to amend the Banking (Capital) Rules to designate government-related entities, including 11 post-secondary institutions and three park companies, as Domestic Public Sector Entities. This measure will help lower banks' capital costs, assist these entities in obtaining bank financing, and thereby accelerate the implementation of NM projects. The HKMA intends to submit the amendments to the Legislative Council in the first quarter of 2027, with a view to their taking effect in the second quarter of the same year.

The Northern Metropolis University Town. Photo source: reference image

Northern Metropolis Financial Advisory Taskforce

The Northern Metropolis Financial Advisory Taskforce was jointly established by the HKMA and the HKAB in April 2026 to strengthen the banking sector's communication and collaboration with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and other stakeholders and explore ways to actively support the Northern Metropolis development through financing. The Taskforce comprises representatives from the HKMA, the HKAB and 25 banks that possess experience in large-scale project financing. The Chinese Banking Association of Hong Kong and the Infrastructure Financing and Securitisation Unit of the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited participate as observers.

Note: San Tin University Town, Hung Shui Kiu University Town and Ta Kwu Ling University Town.