Hong Kong Customs teams up with EU customs administrations to combat cross-boundary counterfeit goods activities (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs conducted a joint operation with the customs administrations of the European Union (EU) member states from June 3 to 16 to combat cross-boundary counterfeit goods activities destined for the EU member states. A total of about 6 300 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $670,000 were seized.

     Hong Kong Customs has been working closely with the customs administrations in the EU to exchange intelligence and formulate enforcement strategies for combating cross-border counterfeiting activities under the EU-Hong Kong Action Plan.  

     Hong Kong Customs carried out targeted enforcement action during the period with the customs administrations of 10 EU member states, namely Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, to step up inspection against suspicious goods destined for the EU member states.

     During the operation, Hong Kong Customs seized a total of about 6 300 items of suspected counterfeit goods, including mobile phones and accessories, watches, clothing, leather goods and footwear, and effectively curbed cross-boundary counterfeit goods activities.

     Hong Kong Customs will continue to work closely with overseas law enforcement agencies to combat cross-boundary counterfeiting activities through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trade mark is applied 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 counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).