Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit watches worth $1.5 million (with photo)
Through risk assessment, Customs on that day intercepted an incoming lorry at the HZMB Hong Kong Port. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected counterfeit watches inside the cargo compartment of the lorry. A 55-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested.
An initial investigation revealed that the batch of suspected counterfeit watches would have been transhipped to overseas regions.
The investigation is ongoing, and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against counterfeit goods and smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports 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.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.
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.hkIssued at HKT 15:00
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Eighth Hong Kong-Switzerland Financial Dialogue
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The eighth Hong Kong-Switzerland Financial Dialogue was held in Bern, Switzerland on January 29 (Bern time). Co-organised by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the State Secretariat for International Finance (SIF) under the Federal Department of Finance of Switzerland, the Dialogue aims to foster collaboration in financial services between Hong Kong and Switzerland, and to facilitate the exchange of views on important issues surrounding the global financial system.
The Dialogue was chaired by Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA Mr Darryl Chan and the Deputy State Secretary of the SIF, Mr Christoph König. Representatives from the Swiss National Bank, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, and the HKMA also participated in this bilateral dialogue. During the meeting, the representatives discussed regional and domestic outlook and policy challenges, as well as the latest developments and potential areas of collaboration in sustainable finance, fintech, and market connectivity.
Following the Dialogue, a financial seminar for the private sector was co-hosted by the Swiss Bankers Association and the Hong Kong Private Wealth Management Association to exchange views on the latest financial trends and developments in Switzerland and Hong Kong, including the use of AI in banking, digital assets, as well as cross-border opportunities and challenges, and to explore opportunities for further collaboration.
Visa-free access to Azerbaijan for HKSAR passport holders
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Visa-free access to Azerbaijan for HKSAR passport holders
An Immigration Department spokesman said, “Azerbaijan is along the Belt and Road. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, this visa-free arrangement will bring travel convenience to HKSAR passport holders and strengthen the tourism, cultural and economic ties between the two places.”
Including Azerbaijan, 175 countries and territories have granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to HKSAR passport holders. Please visit the following website for details: www.immd.gov.hk/eng/service/travel_document/visa_free_access.htmlIssued at HKT 11:00
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Residential mortgage survey results for December 2025
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Residential mortgage survey results for December 2025
The number of mortgage applications in December decreased month-on-month by 5.1 per cent to 7 612.
Mortgage loans approved in December increased by 7.1 per cent compared with November to HK$31.2 billion. Among these, mortgage loans financing primary market transactions increased by 8.2 per cent to HK$11.7 billion and those financing secondary market transactions increased by 7.6 per cent to HK$16.8 billion. Mortgage loans for refinancing decreased by 0.6 per cent to HK$2.7 billion.
Mortgage loans drawn down during December increased by 1.7 per cent compared with November to HK$20 billion.
The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to HIBOR decreased from 90.7 per cent in November to 89.8 per cent in December. The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to best lending rates increased from 1.1 per cent in November to 1.3 per cent in December.
The outstanding value of mortgage loans increased month-on-month by 0.2 per cent to HK$1,917.5 billion at end-December.
The mortgage delinquency ratio stood at a low level of 0.14 per cent and the rescheduled loan ratio was unchanged at nearly 0 per cent.
Issued at HKT 16:30
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Advance release calendar for monthly financial results
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Advance release calendar for monthly financial results
The timetable for the release of the monthly data for the 2026-27 financial year is as follows: