HK's commerce chief says existing laws adequate to curb 'blind box' unfair trading

Hong Kong's commerce chief Algernon Yau Ying-wah has reiterated the current legislation is adequate to curb unfair trading practices and safeguard consumer rights, amid the rising popularity of the "blind box" trend in the city. 

This comes after lawmaker Simon Lee filed an inquiry about potential gambling elements in blind box sales and how this affects consumers, particularly children. According to the written statement, Yau said various laws are in place in Hong Kong to protect the rights and interests of consumers.

Among others, the Trade Descriptions Ordinance prohibits traders from subjecting consumers to unfair trade practices, including false trade descriptions, misleading omissions, aggressive commercial practices, bait advertising, bait-and-switch and wrongly accepting payment, he said.

Meanwhile, the Trade Descriptions Ordinance covers goods and services, and is applicable to the trade practices of both physical and online traders. A trader deploying any of the above unfair trade practices when selling "blind boxes" to consumers will contravene the law.

He added that the authorities have been actively combating unfair trade practices through enforcement actions, compliance promotion, and publicity and public education, with a view to protecting consumer rights and interests. "If a trader is suspected of having engaged in unfair trade practices, the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) will take enforcement actions decisively."

On the other hand, the Consumer Council will continue to study and promote the protection of consumers' rights and interests, including handling consumer complaints concerning goods and services. If consumers suspect that a trader is engaging in unfair trade practices when selling "blind boxes", they could report the matter to the C&ED or file a complaint with the Council.

Responding to concerns about blind boxes that may include items such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food, or hazardous goods, Yau emphasised that existing regulations are already in place to ensure consumer safety.

For example, selling drugs in the form of "blind boxes" may violate relevant legislation. When purchasing drugs, members of the public should carefully read the information on the packaging labels, and should not buy or use products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources.

As regards food, the labelling or marking of the prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong, whether in the form of "blind boxes" or not, must include relevant information, including indication of durability, statement of special conditions for storage or instructions for use, information on energy value and nutrient content, in either the English or the Chinese language or in both languages.

He concluded that the Government will continue to closely monitor the trends of unfair trade practices and the latest requirements for safety standards of various articles to formulate appropriate strategies, thereby protecting consumers' rights and interests and safety.

In recent years, many non-toy retailers have tapped into the blind box craze to boost sales in Hong Kong. Back in September, Ocean Park Halloween Fest 2025 introduced blind box surprises into every haunted experience, centred on the daring theme "The cursed collection - everything taken demands a soul".

In the same month, BOC Credit Card capitalised on the blind box economy trend with the launch of collectible blind box figures of local singer MC Cheung, driving card acquisition and spending.

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