Customs officers yesterday (July 19) raided 13 hawker stalls and two shops at Fa Yuen Street and Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok, Causeway Bay and Stanley.
They seized about 1,800 pieces of counterfeit products, out of which 600 pieces were related to a famous British soccer league. The products included soccer T-shirt, caps, souvenirs and VCDs with total seizure value of over $72,000.
Ten persons, including 3 men and 7 women, aged between 28 and 59, were arrested. They are now on bail pending further investigation.
As a famous British soccer league will be coming to Hong Kong next week for a match, Hong Kong Customs approached the trademark owner early this month with a view to combat the surge of counterfeit products.
After extensive surveillance, Customs officers conducted the operation yesterday.
"Hong Kong Customs will step up surveillance jointly with trademark owner, and take immediate action when counterfeit activity is spotted," a spokesman for Customs and Excise said today (July 20).
He stressed that to combat counterfeit activities, Hong Kong Customs will continue its enforcement action against retail shops, strengthen intelligence collection and maintain close co-operation with trademark owners.
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.
Ends/Wednesday, July 20, 2005