Customs officers yesterday (September 26) cracked the largest counterfeit jewellery case seizing 450 pieces of counterfeit jewellery with value of about $5.5 million.
In raids against ten locations in Kowloon around noon yesterday, officers from the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau seized from five jewellery shops (three in Tsim Sha Tsui, one in To Kwa Wan, and one in Kowloon Bay) 450 pieces of counterfeit jewellery, including rings, bracelets, necklaces and pendants.
Eleven persons, including four men and seven women, aged between 30 and 57, were arrested. They were on bail pending further investigations.
The officers seized most of the counterfeit jewellery from two shops, located respectively in To Kwa Wan and Kowloon Bay, which targeted at Mainland tourists.
Investigations showed that, in those two shops, counterfeit jewellery seized was less than ten per cent of the total goods on sale.
The Head of Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau, Mr Tam Yiu-keung, said today (September 27), "To combat counterfeit goods activities, Customs has all along been maintaining close cooperation with trademark owners in the realm of market surveillance. Strategic partnerships have been formed with the industries to heighten their awareness of suspected trademark infringement activities.
"In the wake of yesterday's operation, Customs has already contacted the jewellery trade association to further alert them of possible business malpractices and to seek their cooperation in boosting the respect for intellectual property rights within the trade," he added.
He reiterated that every effort would be made by the Customs and Excise Department in safeguarding Hong Kong's reputation as a shopping paradise for genuine goods.
Ends/Tuesday, September 27, 2005