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The Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB) of Police discovered one new variation of counterfeit HSBC HK$1,000 banknote (2003 series) on January 5. This seizure bears distinguishable features from previous seizure of counterfeit HSBC HK$1,000 banknote (2003 series).
The above counterfeit HSBC HK$1,000 banknote (2003 series) bears two distinguishable features from previous seizure:
(a) The bearer dates in Arabic number and the Chinese character at the middle bottom of the counterfeit banknote have been changed from "2008" to "2009";
(b) Under ultraviolet light, the counterfeit banknote bears similar fluorescent barcode as of genuine banknote which is bright and in clear pale yellow colour.
CCB is closely monitoring the situation and are proactively conducting investigations against the new variation of counterfeit HK$1,000 banknotes. Police will strengthen the intelligence gathering and cooperation with the law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders especially the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the banks to combat the counterfeit currencies in Hong Kong.
On December 27, 2013, Police seized new variation of counterfeit HSBC HK$1,000 banknote (2003 series). These counterfeit banknotes embedded with some simulated security features as genuine banknotes. Between December 27, 2013 and September 30, 2014, a total of 252 HSBC counterfeit banknotes were seized.
In the first nine months of 2014, a total of 1,717 pieces of counterfeit HK banknotes were seized, representing a decrease of 21.1% compared to 2,176 HK banknotes seized in the same period of 2013. Out of the 1,717 seized banknotes, 538 pieces were HK$1,000 banknotes, an increase of 214.6% compared to 171 HK$1,000 banknotes seized in the same period of 2013.
Most of the counterfeit HK banknotes were collected from local banks, and the quality was considered average or poor. Members of public could easily confirm the genuineness. Compared to the total amount of Hong Kong dollar banknotes in circulation, less than one counterfeit HK banknote appeared in every one million of Hong Kong banknotes circulation as at 2014.
Police appeal to the public that upon receipt of suspected counterfeit banknotes, they should immediately hand them over to Police or banks. They should not attempt to reuse suspected counterfeit banknotes, otherwise they might commit the offence of "Passing counterfeit notes" under Section 99 of Crimes Ordinance, Chapter 200, the Laws of Hong Kong.
Police have set up a hotline 2860 5012 for public enquiries. Police also appeal to the public to browse the web pages of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to familiarise with the security features of Hong Kong banknotes.
Ends/Thursday, January 8, 2015
Issued at HKT 23:06
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