Hong Kong Customs will step up inspections and enforcement starting this week and through the Lunar New Year holiday with a view to combating the sale of counterfeit goods in town.
Customs officers conducted special operations against the sale of counterfeit goods in Central and Mong Kok on January 5 and January 7 respectively. About 10 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods, including handbags, belts, watches and clothing, with an estimated market value of about $4 million were seized.
Customs earlier received information alleging the sale of counterfeit goods at some hawker stalls in Central and Mong Kok. After in-depth investigation with the assistance of the trademark owners, Customs officers took enforcement action and raided a number of mobile and fixed-pitch hawker stalls selling counterfeit goods in Central and on Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok. Two upstairs storage centres on Tung Choi Street were also smashed. The batch of suspected counterfeit goods was seized.
During the operation, two men and four women, aged between 24 and 55, were arrested.
Investigation is ongoing.
Customs reminds consumers to procure goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.
Customs also reminds traders to be cautious and prudent in merchandising since the sale of counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report any suspected infringing activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
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