HONG KONG: Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department has conducted a series of strike-and-search operations against the sale of infringing goods for Lunar New Year.
The operations were taken in various districts in Hong Kong from and a total of 15 cases were detected with the arrest of 20 persons and seizure of some 46,000 items of suspected infringing goods valued at about 433,000 HK dollars (about 55,800 U.S. dollars).
Group Head of the Intellectual Property Investigation (Operations) of the Customs Wong Yim-pui said the Customs would continue to take stringent enforcement actions to combat infringing activities.
He said citizens should purchase at wholesale and retail shops with good reputations or at franchised stores of brands.
The Customs reminded traders that selling infringing goods was a serious crime and offenders were liable to criminal sanctions.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, it is an offence to sell or possess for sale of any goods with any forged trademark. Upon conviction, offenders are liable to a maximum punishment of imprisonment for five years and a fine of 500,000 HK dollars.
Under the Copyright Ordinance, it is an offence to sell or possess for sale of infringing items. Upon conviction, offenders are liable to a maximum punishment of imprisonment for four years and a fine of 50,000 HK dollars for each infringing copy.
