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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 10 locations in Kowloon around noon yesterday, officers from the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau seized 450 pieces of counterfeit jewellery, including rings, bracelets, necklaces and pendants from five jewellery shops (three in Tsim Sha Tsui, one in To Kwa Wan, and one in Kowloon Bay).
Eleven people - 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, in To Kwa Wan and Kowloon Bay, which targeted Mainland tourists.
Investigations showed that, in those two shops, counterfeit jewellery seized was less than 10% of the total goods on sale.
The Head of Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau, Mr Tam Yiu-keung, said today (September 27) that to combat counterfeit goods activities, Customs had all along been maintaining close co-operation with trademark owners in the realm of market surveillance. Strategic partnerships had 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 co-operation in boosting the respect for intellectual property rights within the trade," Mr Tam said.
He stressed that every effort would be made by the Customs and Excise Department to safeguard Hong Kong's reputation as a shopping paradise for genuine goods.
Ends/Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:55
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