Hong Kong's Customs seizes counterfeit goods at $270,000

Hong Kong's Customs and Excise Department on Wednesday announced that 1,156 items of suspected counterfeit goods valued at 270,000 HK dollars (about 34,793.81 U. S. dollars) were seized on Tuesday. Customs and police officers raided a number of target places in Tsim Sha Tsui on Tuesday when the customs and police department conducted a joint operation to combat the selling of counterfeit goods. The enforcement action led to a successful crackdown on three storehouses with various types of suspected counterfeit goods including leather goods, watches, sunglasses and pens for the purpose of trade, and on another two sales outlets selling suspected counterfeit mobile phone accessories. Seven men, aged from 21 to 56, were arrested in the operation. Customs reminded traders and members of the public to respect intellectual property rights and that the sale of infringing goods is a serious crime whereby offenders are liable for criminal sanctions. Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with any forged trademark, or applies a false trade description in the course of trade, commits an offence. Upon conviction, offenders are liable to a maximum fine of 500,000 HK dollars and imprisonment of 5 years. (1 U.S. dollar = 7.76 HK dollars)