Recently, mainstream Hong Kong media including Ming Pao, TVB News, TVB and ViuTV have successively reported that counterfeit autoclaved aerated concrete blocks bearing the YTONG brand were used in the Tung Chung East Station project of the MTR Tung Chung Line Extension. A storm concerning construction quality and integrity is sweeping Hong Kong’s infrastructure sector.
According to media coverage, the Tung Chung East Station project of MTR Tung Chung Line Extension originally specified YTONG autoclaved blocks from Germany. Boasting a century-long history, YTONG products are renowned for stable and superior performance. The brand has entered Hong Kong’s market for over 30 years and has been widely adopted in landmark projects such as Hong Kong International Airport. Gateway Building Materials Limited is the exclusive authorized distributor of YTONG in Hong Kong. Shockingly, counterfeit "Beijing YiTong" blocks manufactured by a factory in Yangzhou, mainland China, were discovered on-site. The product bears a name highly similar to genuine YTONG and illegally bears counterfeit YTONG trademarks, which were installed in the construction project as authentic goods.
This incident has drawn extensive continuous coverage from Hong Kong media and close attention from Hong Kong’s construction authorities. An MTR spokesperson clarified that these counterfeit blocks were only applied to non-structural partition walls of station equipment rooms, construction of which commenced in June this year. The corporation confirmed that batches of such counterfeit materials will no longer be used in the project. MTR also stated it will conduct independent reviews of investigation reports to guarantee construction quality will not be compromised. After detection of counterfeit blocks, relevant walls have been ordered to be demolished and rebuilt. This brings extra construction costs and risks delays to the whole Tung Chung East Station project. Industry insiders in Hong Kong pointed out that substandard blocks will threaten subsequent construction safety and structural durability, and the issue cannot be underestimated.
As the sole authorized licensee of YTONG technology and brand for China (including Hong Kong and Macao) under Germany’s Xella Group, UBlok consistently manufactures and supplies premium genuine YTONG products in strict accordance with YTONG technical standards and quality control procedures. Two months prior to the media exposure, upon learning that counterfeit YTONG goods had entered Hong Kong’s market, UBlok immediately released official statements and took legal and administrative measures to safeguard trademark rights and block counterfeit products from circulation.
UBlok will keep cooperating with relevant authorities to investigate the full truth of this incident. The company will continue to provide high-quality products and professional services to support Hong Kong’s construction industry, maintain sound market order and protect consumer legitimate rights and interests.
