The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Timothy Tong, said today (September 27) the Department would continue to take vigorous enforcement actions against any commercial piracy activities to protect legitimate business operators and the trade integrity of Hong Kong in the international arena.
In relation to a Customs raid against some jewellery shops selling counterfeit products yesterday (September 26), Commissioner Tong noted that jewellery were among the most popular items to tourists including Mainlanders, and that the vast majority of the shops only deal with genuine goods.
He said the Department had established close partnership with major trade associations and industry players to fight against commercial piracy.
In a meeting with the Chairman of the Hong Kong Jewellery and Jade Manufacturers Association, Mr Li King-hi, Commissioner Tong welcomed the Association's initiative to invite the Department's Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau to organise anti-piracy seminars for the industry next month.
Commissioner Tong noted the Association's pledge to support Customs enforcement actions to protect the trade integrity.
He said, "We appreciate the Association's devotion to the protection of intellectual property rights with the Department.
"Their wholehearted support is of paramount importance to the eradication of trade mark infringement activities," he added.
As the world's second largest exporter of fine jewellery, Hong Kong exported $27 billion worth of jewellery products in 2004.
Noting the territory's great success in the jewellery trade, Commissioner Tong said that almost all of the industry retailers were law-abiding. The Customs enforcement raid yesterday would send a clear message to the very few offenders involved that the Government is committed to rooting out trademark infringement, and bringing them to justice.
Ends/Tuesday, September 27, 2005