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Customs officers seized about $1.4 million worth of counterfeit clothes in raids on six shops on Lion Rock Road, Kowloon City, yesterday (October 28).
They also arrested a man and eight women, aged 36 to 54, including four persons-in-charge and five shop assistants.
Based on information received from trademark owners, Customs officers carried out extensive investigations and conducted a large-scale operation yesterday. They found in six shops about 12,000 pieces of counterfeit clothing.
Investigations showed that the counterfeits were claimed to be out-of-season goods supposedly for export, substandard goods or samples when offered for sale at some of the shops.
A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department today (October 29) warned shop owners not to engage in counterfeiting activities.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, it is a criminal offence to sell goods with forged trademarks or false trade descriptions to a material degree. The maximum penalty upon conviction is imprisonment for five years and a fine of $500,000.
Reports of suspected counterfeiting activities can be made to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:16
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