Hong Kong Customs conducted a strike-and-search operation and smashed a counterfeit syndicate at Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok yesterday (December 15). Customs officers seized more than 10 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $10 million.
After investigation, Customs raided four fixed hawker pitches, an upstairs showroom and four storages of the syndicate at Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok yesterday. During the operation, more than 10 000 pieces of suspected counterfeit goods including watches, handbags and leather goods, as well as four tablets for displaying photos of suspected counterfeit goods were seized. Seven men and three women, aged 24 to 38, were arrested. Investigation is ongoing.
Group Head (Intellectual Property Investigation (Operations)) of Customs, Mr Guy Fong, today (December 16) said that Customs would step up enforcement actions against counterfeiting activities during the Christmas and New Year holidays. He reminded traders that the sale of counterfeit goods is a serious crime and liable to criminal sanctions. Young people should not engage in the sale of counterfeit goods in any shops or on the Internet. He also appealed to consumers to procure goods at reputable shops and to check with trademark owners or their authorised agencies if authenticity of the product is in doubt.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trade mark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Ends/Friday, December 16, 2016
