​Hong Kong Customs mounted a special enforcement operation codenamed "Gridbuster" in Mong Kok between November 26 and today (December 11) to combat the sale of counterfeit goods and seized about 6 500 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $3 million.
Customs earlier conducted patrols and discovered some fixed-pitch hawker stalls selling suspected counterfeit goods in Mong Kok. After investigations, Customs officers took enforcement action during the abovementioned period and raided 27 fixed-pitch hawker stalls on Tung Choi Street. A batch of suspected counterfeit goods, including clothes, handbags and watches, was seized.
During the operation, one man and three women, aged between 36 and 64, were arrested. An investigation is ongoing.
With the Christmas and New Year approaching, Customs will continue to step up inspection and enforcement to vigorously combat different kinds of counterfeit goods activities in order to safeguard consumer rights at full strength.
Customs appeals to consumers to purchase goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. Traders should be cautious and prudent in merchandising since the sale of 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 counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 80 80 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Ends/Wednesday, December 11, 2024
