Hong Kong Customs conducted a three-week joint operation with the Mainland and Macao Customs from November 23 to yesterday (December 13) to combat cross-boundary counterfeiting activities among the three places and with goods destined for overseas countries. During the operation, Hong Kong Customs seized about 18 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $2.3 million.
The three Customs administrations stepped up inspection of goods across the three places and destined for overseas countries during the operation to effectively curb cross-boundary counterfeit goods transshipment activities. The suspected counterfeit goods seized by Hong Kong Customs included backpacks, mobile phones and accessories, leather products, clothes and footwear.
This is the third joint operation by the three Customs administrations this year. Together with the two operations conducted between April and May and August and September, Hong Kong Customs has seized a total of about 58 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $9.3 million.
Hong Kong Customs will continue to work closely with the Mainland Customs, Macao Customs and overseas law enforcement agencies to combat cross-boundary counterfeit goods transshipping activities vigorously through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods with any 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 counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, December 14, 2020
