With the integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, an increasing number of residents from Hong Kong and Macao are purchasing mainland goods through cross-boundary e-commerce platforms. Between 2022 and June 2025, the Hong Kong Consumer Council received over 10,000 complaints related to mainland e-commerce platforms, with most of these complaints being resolved through a cross-boundary complaint coordination mechanism.
However, a recent incident involving a 13-year-old Hong Kong child who bought smoke bombs from the online shopping platform Pinduoduo for play, resulting in a fire and subsequent arrest by Hong Kong police for alleged possession of explosives, highlights the differences in regulations across the three regions and the potential legal risks of online shopping.
Yesterday, the Guangdong Provincial Consumer Council, the Hong Kong Consumer Council, and the Macao Consumer Council jointly issued a warning for the first time, stating that some mainland goods are sold exclusively in the mainland market due to factors such as local policies and regulations, logistics costs, product nature, and marketing strategies. They reminded consumers to exercise caution when engaging in cross-boundary online shopping.
Recently, many Hong Kong and Macao consumers purchasing mainland-exclusive goods (domestic sales products) affected by mainland policies, logistics costs, product nature, and marketing strategies have relied on mainland consolidation warehouses for collection and shipping arrangements or personally picked up goods at mainland self-collection points. This has lengthened the online shopping and transportation processes, increasing consumer risks. Some consumers have also encountered difficulties when filing complaints about returns or exchanges of domestic sales products.
To help Hong Kong and Macao consumers better understand mainland regulations, strengthen awareness of protecting their consumer rights, and shop for domestic sales products with greater confidence, the consumer councils of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao jointly issued five consumer reminders. These remind consumers to pay attention to differences in legal standards between the mainland and Hong Kong/Macao, inspect goods during transportation, and clarify customs and tax exemption rules to avoid losses.
Prefer products with return shipping insurance!
Currently, the legal standards and product regulations differ between the mainland and Hong Kong/Macao. Domestic sales products only need to comply with mainland regulations and standards. The reminders state that if Hong Kong and Macao consumers have specific requirements for certain quality standards, they should carefully review the product details, functional descriptions, and other information before purchasing.
The three consumer councils also reminded the public that since the subsequent logistics arrangements for domestic sales of products after arriving at consolidation warehouses must be handled by consumers themselves, return costs are often borne by the consumer. Even if a product has quality issues, merchants may refuse to cover cross-boundary shipping fees.
Consumers should prioritize products that offer return shipping insurance or negotiate refund arrangements with merchants in advance in case of quality issues.
Cross-boundary online shopping involves multiple steps. If consumers discover damaged goods upon delivery, they may face a situation where responsibility is shifted among multiple parties. Therefore, they should inspect the condition of goods during transportation whenever possible. For high-value or fragile items, consumers can opt for consolidation warehouses that offer unpacking inspection services or purchase additional services such as "unboxing photo verification."
Check for prohibited Items via the official app
Since cross-boundary online shopping involves customs supervision, Hong Kong and Macao consumers should check whether domestic sales products are prohibited from import or export and inquire about tax exemption limits. They can also use the app launched by mainland customs to access relevant information in advance. Hong Kong consumers can also refer to the Hong Kong Customs website for import and export control details.
If a consumer dispute arises, consumers can first request intervention from the relevant e-commerce platform. If the dispute remains unresolved, they can file a complaint with their local consumer council or through the Guangdong Consumer Complaint Consultation Information Platform.
LegCo Member calls for stricter controls at the source
Legislative Council (LegCo) Member Shiu Ka-fai, in an interview with Wen Wei Po, cited the case of the 13-year-old boy who purchased smoke bombs from Pinduoduo as an example. As a Member of the wholesale and retail functional constituency, he stated that the best preventive measure should be blocking non-compliant goods at the source.
"Nowadays, e-commerce platforms can check consumers' IP addresses. If platforms self-regulate—for example, by establishing a database of Hong Kong laws—they can automatically block transactions when Hong Kong consumers attempt to purchase goods that violate Hong Kong regulations."
He also recommended that the Hong Kong government strengthen public education to help consumers understand whether products comply with Hong Kong laws. Customs should also increase spot checks on online purchases to prevent criminals from smuggling prohibited items into Hong Kong through online shopping.
"Cross-boundary online shopping is already very common among Hong Kong people. While most consumers are quite experienced, there are still occasional cases of misrepresented goods where consumers have to bear return shipping costs," Shiu noted.
He also said that cases of purchasing electrical appliances that do not meet Hong Kong's energy labels, online food products that fail Hong Kong food safety standards, or furniture exceeding Hong Kong's formaldehyde limits are not uncommon.
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Warning on Cross-Boundary Online Shopping for Domestic Sales Products
- Legal standards differ—Check product information carefully
Before purchasing, carefully review product details, functional descriptions, and, if necessary, quality standards to ensure they meet your needs and avoid disputes upon delivery.
- Transportation process is complex—Inspect goods during transit
Check the condition of goods during transportation. For high-value or fragile items, prioritize consolidation warehouses that offer unpacking inspection services or purchase additional "unboxing photo" services.
- Disputes over return Costs—Negotiate in advance
Prioritize products with return shipping insurance. For items more likely to be returned or large-sized products, negotiate refund arrangements for quality issues with the merchant before purchasing.
- Customs and tax exemption rules—Clarify early to avoid losses
When purchasing domestic sales products, check whether they are prohibited from import or export. Hong Kong consumers can use the mainland app and refer to Hong Kong Customs' import/export control website for more information.
- File complaints promptly in case of disputes—Protect your consumer rights
Keep order details and customer service records when shopping online. If a dispute arises, first request intervention from the e-commerce platform. If unresolved, file a complaint with your local consumer council or through the Guangdong Consumer Complaint Consultation Information Platform.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Yim Kai-wa; English Editor: Darius)
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