Hong Kong Customs special operation combats sale of counterfeit goods (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 15) conducted a special operation in Tin Shui Wai and Kwai Chung, and cracked down on one mobile hawker stall and its storage place successfully. A total of about 1,900 items of suspected counterfeit apparel with an estimated market value of about $480,000 were seized.
      
     Customs earlier received information regarding a mobile hawker selling suspected counterfeit goods in Tin Shui Wai. After an in-depth investigation, Customs officers took enforcement action yesterday and raided a mobile hawker stall in Tin Shui Wai and its storage place in Kwai Chung. The batch of suspected counterfeit apparel was seized.
      
     During the operation, two men aged 48 and 49 suspected to be connected with the case were arrested. They have been released on bail pending further investigation. An investigation is ongoing.
      
     With Lunar New Year approaching, Customs will continue to step up inspection and enforcement to combat the sale of different kinds of counterfeit goods. 
      
     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. Also, traders should 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 counterfeit activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).