Hong Kong Customs today (September 5) conducted an operation against the sale of counterfeit goods at a fair held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and seized suspected counterfeit watch boxes.
Customs earlier received information alleging that counterfeit watch boxes were displayed for order at a booth of the Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair held at the HKCEC.
After investigation, Customs officers conducted a test-buy operation today and successfully ordered 1 000 pieces of suspected counterfeit watch box valued at about $38,000 in total.
During the operation, Customs officers also seized three pieces of suspected counterfeit watch box. A 36-year-old salesman was arrested.
Investigation is ongoing.
Customs attaches great importance to combat the infringing activities at exhibition and officers will be sent to different exhibitions to conduct inspections. Customs will contact the relevant trademark or copyright owner immediately to confirm the authenticity of the goods when suspected infringing exhibit was found. Customs will take enforcement action after investigation and with the assistance of the trademark or copyright owner.
Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action to combat infringing activities. Booth exhibitors are reminded to respect intellectual property rights and not to sell infringing goods.
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/Thursday, September 5, 2019
