Hong Kong Customs Reinforces Regulatory Framework at JGW Fair as Attendance Exceeds Pre-Pandemic Benchmarks

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HONG KONG — September 14, 2026 — As thousands of international trade members arrived for the opening of Jewellery & Gem WORLD (JGW) Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department issued an official advisory reminding non-local exhibitors of their statutory obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615).

Jewellery and Gem WORLD Hong Kong and Hong Kong Customs regulatory compliance

What non-local exhibitors need to know

Under the Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Regulatory Regime, overseas exhibitors who execute high-value transactions during the trade fair must comply with local reporting requirements:

Cash transaction threshold: Any cash or physical payment transaction valued at HKD 120,000 or above, or its foreign-currency equivalent, requires a formal Cash Transaction Report (CTR).
Submission deadline: Non-local exhibitors are exempt from formal local dealer registration, but must file reports online via the DPMS Registration System, by fax, or in person at Customs booth No. 1M015 in the HKCEC within one day of completing the deal or before departing Hong Kong.
On-site support: Customs officers maintain service desks at AsiaWorld-Expo and HKCEC to assist with digital e-filing through DPMS iPASS.

How the framework is shaping trade operations

Rather than depressing overall business, the framework—introduced in April 2023—has reshaped how transactions are settled on the show floor. Buyers and sellers have increasingly shifted toward wire transfers, letters of credit, and electronic payment processing to reduce paper-cash disclosure obligations and administrative overhead.

With comparable anti-money-laundering standards enforced in major diamond and gem centres including Antwerp, Geneva, and New York, international buyers generally view Hong Kong’s regime as part of standard global compliance rather than a trade barrier.

Attendance exceeds pre-pandemic benchmarks

Data from event organiser Informa Markets indicates that regulatory enforcement has coincided with a sustained post-pandemic rebound in participation:

Unique buyer attendance: approximately 54,000 in 2019; approximately 50,100 in 2024; 55,176 in 2025, up 10% year on year.
International buyer share: approximately 70% in 2019; 67.5% in 2024; 69.2% in 2025, representing buyers from 141 countries.
Exhibiting companies: more than 3,700 in 2019; more than 3,300 in 2024; more than 3,400 in 2025 across more than 40 pavilions.

While gross sales transaction values remain confidential between private B2B buyers and sellers, attendance and exhibitor metrics indicate that the trade fair has stabilised beyond pre-pandemic levels.

Source: Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department press release; Informa Markets event data. This article is for general information and does not constitute legal advice.