Recently, major Hong Kong media outlets and television stations including Ming Pao, Wireless News, TVB, and ViuTV have successively reported that counterfeit YTONG-branded autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks were used in the construction of Tung Chung East Station, an extension of the MTR Tung Chung Line. A storm concerning quality and integrity is quietly sweeping through Hong Kong's infrastructure sector.
According to reports, the Tung Chung East Station project, part of the MTR Tung Chung Line extension, was originally scheduled to use the renowned German brand "YTONG" AAC blocks. With a long history of over a century, YTONG is famous for its excellent quality and stable performance. Having entered the Hong Kong market for more than 30 years, its products have been widely used in major projects such as the construction of Hong Kong International Airport. Hong Kong Kit Wai Building Materials Co., Ltd. is the sole agent of YTONG in the Hong Kong market. However, shockingly, it was discovered that the project was suspected of using "Beijing YiTong" AAC blocks produced by a company in Yangzhou, Mainland China. Not only does this product have a name highly similar to Germany’s YTONG, but it also illegally bears counterfeit "YTONG" trademarks and was used in the project by passing off as genuine products.
This incident has not only continued to gain traction in major Hong Kong media but also attracted great attention from Hong Kong's construction authority. An MTR spokesperson emphasized that these counterfeit AAC blocks were only used for non-structural partition walls in the station's equipment rooms. The construction work began in June this year, and it has now been confirmed that no more blocks from the relevant batch will be used in the project. MTR also stated that it will conduct an independent review of the investigation report to ensure that the project quality is not affected. After the counterfeit blocks were discovered, the relevant walls have been required to be demolished and reconstructed. This not only means additional project costs but may also delay the overall construction progress of Tung Chung East Station. Industry insiders in Hong Kong pointed out that as a basic building material, substandard blocks will affect the safety and durability of subsequent construction, and this issue must never be taken lightly.
As the only authorized unit in China (including Hong Kong and Macau) for YTONG technology and brand by Germany’s Xella Group, UBlok has always adhered to YTONG’s technical standards and quality control processes in the production, supply, and sales of high-quality YTONG-branded products. As early as two months ago, upon learning that counterfeit YTONG products had entered the Hong Kong market, UBlok immediately issued an official statement and actively safeguarded its rights through legal and industrial and commercial channels to protect its trademark rights from infringement and block counterfeit products from entering the market.
UBlok will continue to cooperate with relevant institutions to investigate the truth of the incident and, as always, contribute to Hong Kong’s construction industry with high-quality products and professional services, while safeguarding market order and consumers’ rights and interests. 
