Customs officers will continue vigorous enforcement actions against counterfeiting activities.
The assurance was given today (March 16) by a spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department after an anti-counterfeiting operation in Mong Kok resulted in the biggest seizure of counterfeit goods in recent years.
During the operation, which began this morning, officers from the Customs Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau smashed eight counterfeit goods storages and seized 27,000 pieces of counterfeit goods, including leather goods, ball pens and watches. Value of the seizure was $3 million.
The officers also arrested two men and one woman, aged between 41 and 63.
The spokesman warned that under Trade Descriptions Ordinance it was an offence to possess for sale any goods bearing false trade marks.
Maximum penalty for the offence is a $500,000 fine and imprisonment for five years.
Ends/Tuesday, March 16, 2004