Hong Kong Customs today (June 17) conducted an operation against the sale of counterfeit goods at a fair being held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and seized about 49 items of suspected counterfeit jewellery with a total estimated market value of about $1.74 million.
Customs earlier received information alleging that counterfeit jewellery was displayed for sale at a booth of Jewellery & Gem ASIA Hong Kong being held at the HKCEC for four days from yesterday (June 16).
After an in-depth investigation and with the assistance of the trademark owner, Customs officers today conducted a test-buy operation and successfully bought one suspected counterfeit necklace from a booth. The officers further seized four suspected counterfeit pendants and three pairs of suspected counterfeit earrings at the booth later. The total estimated market value of the eight items of suspected counterfeit jewellery was about $40,000.
Customs officers then conducted a search at an office suspected to be connected with the case in Hung Hom and further seized 41 items of suspected counterfeit jewellery with a total estimated market value of about $1.7 million.
During the operation, a 37-year-old female person-in-charge and a 41-year-old male person-in-charge of the booth were arrested.
Investigation is ongoing.
Customs attaches great importance to combating infringing activities at exhibitions 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 a suspected infringing exhibit is 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/Friday, June 17, 2022
