Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 18) conducted an operation and raided a repair workshop using counterfeit mobile phone parts with its storage centre in Tuen Mun. A total of about 3 900 items of suspected counterfeit mobile phones and parts with an estimated market value of about $940,000 were seized.
Customs earlier received information alleging that a mobile phone repair workshop used counterfeit parts in the course of providing repair service. After an in-depth investigation with the assistance of a trademark owner, Customs officers took enforcement action yesterday and raided the repair workshop and its storage centre inside an industrial building in the district where the batch of suspected counterfeit mobile phones and parts was seized.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the workshop targeted overseas customers to provide mobile phone repair services using counterfeit parts and to sell counterfeit mobile phone parts.
During the operation, a 47-year-old male director and a 24-year-old male manager of the workshop were arrested.
Investigation is ongoing.
The Divisional Commander (Intellectual Property Transnational Investigation), Mr Szeto Chi-fai, said at a press conference today (July 19) that Customs will continue to step up enforcement to combat the sale and use of counterfeit mobile phone parts. He reminded consumers to repair their mobile phones at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.
He also reminded traders to be cautious and prudent in merchandising since the possession of counterfeit goods for any trade or business 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 infringing activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Wednesday, June 19, 2019
