Customs officers yesterday (February 7) raided a counterfeit sportswear outlet located in an industrial building on Tai Lin Pai Road, Kwai Chung, which sold suspected counterfeit sportswear, sneakers and bags of various brand names.
During the operation, about 700 pieces of counterfeit products worth $200,000 were seized. They included 550 pairs of counterfeit sneakers, 100 bags and 50 pieces of counterfeit sportswear.
Two men, aged 23 and 35, were arrested.
Acting on complaint from a trademark owner received two days ago, Customs officers conducted the operation yesterday.
"Investigation showed that the outlet was on short-term lease. Publicity has been made in newspapers supplement publicising the outlet as the one selling popular sportswear and sneakers at a bargain," the Divisional Commander of the Trade Descriptions Investigation Division of Intellectual Property and Investigation Bureau, Mr Samson Chiu, said today (February 8)during the press conference.
"However, the price of the goods was not low. For instance, a pair of counterfeit sneaker was sold from $150 to $600. Customs officers also found that the counterfeit products were mixed with genuine ones in order to cheat customers," he added.
Commander Chiu attributed the success of this operation to the cooperation between the Department and the trademark owner.
Any person who contravenes the Trade Descriptions Ordinance is liable to prosecution. The maximum penalty is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Hong Kong Customs reminded the public to report any suspected counterfeiting activities to the Department by calling the 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Tuesday, February 8, 2005