​Hong Kong Customs today (March 28) conducted a special operation in Mong Kok to combat the sale of counterfeit goods and seized about 5 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $1 million.
Following the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland on February 6, Customs has been monitoring the situation in the market regarding the sale of counterfeit goods. Customs officers were deployed to conduct frequent patrols, during which some hawker stalls in Mong Kok were found selling suspected counterfeit goods.
After investigation, Customs officers today took enforcement action and raided a number of fixed-pitch and mobile hawker stalls on Tung Choi Street and an upstairs counterfeit goods storage centre nearby. A batch of suspected counterfeit goods, including handbags, leather goods and sports footwear, was seized.
During the operation, a 37-year-old woman was arrested.
An investigation is ongoing.
With the Easter holiday and the Labour Day Golden Week period approaching, Customs will continue to step up inspection and enforcement to vigorously combat different kinds of counterfeit goods activities before and during the holidays in order to safeguard consumer rights at full strength.
Customs reminds consumers to procure goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. Also, traders should be cautious and prudent in merchandising since selling counterfeit goods 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/Tuesday, March 28, 2023
