The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Consumer Protection Meeting 2025 was held today (12 December 2025) in Macau. The Hong Kong Consumer Council’s (HKCC) delegation was led by Chief Executive Dr Alaina Shum, who attended the Meeting for the first time. The Meeting brought together representatives from the China Consumers Association and consumer organisations in 11 cities (“9+2” cities) across the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Participants reviewed the achievements of the past year and exchanged views on key topics, including the digital economy, silver economy, promoting consumption integration in the GBA, and strengthening cross-border consumer protection—further consolidating the foundation for regional collaboration.
During the Meeting, the HKCC also introduced its newly established Working Group on Cross-Border Consumer Protection and E-Commerce Development, reaffirming its commitment to enhancing cross-border consumer rights protection and promoting a fair and transparent e-commerce market, ushering in a new era of secure and trustworthy cross-border consumption.
This year’s Meeting was themed “Co-creating a New Landscape of Satisfactory Consumption in the GBA”. Speaking at the event, Dr Shum said, “Driving high-quality development in the GBA requires robust consumer protection and confidence. Through this Meeting, the HKCC is fostering closer cooperation on mutual recognition of standards, information sharing, and dispute resolution mechanisms, so that residents across the GBA can shop and spend with confidence. We believe consumer trust can serve as a vital link connecting the GBA and injecting fresh momentum into its economic integration.”
Dr Shum also highlighted the HKCC’s initiatives over the past year to promote and safeguard consumer rights in the GBA. These included issuing a joint cross-border online shopping alert with the Guangdong Consumer Council and Macao SAR Government Consumer Council, actively participating in drafting a set of GBA Standards, and improving the efficiency of cross-border dispute resolution through complaint referral mechanisms and a pilot Tmall Global Cross-Border Consumer Service Station. Earlier this year, the HKCC also launched the GBA Smart Guide for Residential Properties, a one-stop platform to help consumers access property rental and purchase information. Looking ahead, the HKCC will continue to advance cross-border consumer protection through 5 key areas: policy advocacy, research study, dispute handling and training, education, and publicity, while maintaining close cooperation with Mainland consumer organisations to achieve synergy.
To address the growing popularity of cross-border online shopping and rising demand for protection, the HKCC recently established the Working Group on Cross-Border Consumer Protection and E-Commerce Development, which held its inaugural meeting on 8 December 2025. This milestone marks an important step in strengthening cross-border consumer protection and promoting healthy e-commerce development. The Working Group, chaired by Mr Augustine Wong Ho-ming, JP comprises HKCC’s Members and industry experts. Members include senior representatives from major e-commerce and electronic payment platforms, leading Mainland social media platforms, trade associations, and enterprises. They shared professional insights on cross-border complaint trends, standards formulation, and industry best practices, reaching preliminary consensus on future directions at the meeting. The full list of Working Group members has been published on the HKCC’s website for public reference.
Population ageing is another common challenge faced by cities across the GBA. During the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Consumer Protection Meeting 2025, the HKCC outlined its initiatives supporting the HKSAR Government’s efforts to develop the silver economy, including the establishment of the Advisory Group on Silver Economy earlier this year. This group brings together experts from healthcare, social welfare, business, and academia to foster cross-sector collaboration. The HKCC also continues to enhance seniors’ ability to differentiate products through product testing and research reports. Furthermore, the HKCC has long provided dedicated complaint channels for seniors and has been promoting consumer education in the community through the Educator Scheme for Senior Citizens, which trains retirees as Senior Educators. In 2026, the HKCC will launch a new Smart Seniors Consumer eHub, a one-stop portal offering information, feature articles, and anti-scam alerts to empower seniors, their families, and caregivers with stronger self-protection abilities, enrich “silver consumption” knowledge, and jointly foster an age-friendly society.
Since signing the first memorandum of understanding (MOU) in 2019, the HKCC has proactively collaborated with consumer organisations in the GBA to promote the safeguarding of consumer rights. In 2023, the HKCC hosted the inaugural Greater Bay Area Consumer Protection Forum, aiming for mutual benefits and synergy while laying the foundation for deeper cross-border information sharing and exchange. In 2024, the Consumer Councils of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao SAR held a meeting in Guangdong and signed a MOU, agreeing that the 3 regions would take turns hosting the annual GBA Consumer Protection Meeting to establish a long-term platform for exchange and cooperation.
Looking forward, the HKCC will continue to work closely with the Government, industry, and stakeholders to optimise collaboration mechanisms and jointly create a safer and more reassuring cross-border consumption environment.
Image Captions:
- Representatives from the China Consumers Association and consumer organisations in 11 cities across the GBA (“9+2” cities) attend the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Consumer Protection Meeting 2025 in Macau.
- Dr Alaina Shum, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Consumer Council, reviews the HKCC’s efforts in promoting cross-border consumer protection at the Meeting. She believes consumer trust can serve as a vital link connecting the Greater Bay Area and inject fresh momentum into regional economic integration.
- The HKCC’s newly established Working Group on Cross-Border Consumer Protection and E-Commerce Development, chaired by Mr Augustine Wong Ho-ming, JP, held its first meeting on 8 December 2025. Members include senior representatives from major e-commerce and electronic payment platforms, leading Mainland social media platforms, trade associations, and enterprises.
