Hong Kong Customs, Police Crack Down on Illegal Hawkers and Ticket Scalpers at Mega Event

Hong Kong Customs, Immigration Department and Hong Kong Police Force conduct joint enforcement action during mega event

During a mega event held on February 7 and 8, Hong Kong Customs (Customs) conducted a joint enforcement operation with the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Hong Kong Police Force (Police) to combat the sale of infringing goods by mobile hawkers, illegal worker and concert ticket scalping activities in the vicinity of the AsiaWorld-Expo.

During the operation, the enforcement officers conducted test-buy operations and suspected that five mobile hawkers were visitors taking up employment or establishing or joining in business in Hong Kong. The five mobile hawkers were subsequently arrested by immigration officers on suspicion of being illegal workers. The arrested illegal workers were five women, aged 20 to 40.

Customs, the ImmD and the Police will continue to step up high-profile patrol and enforcement to resolutely combat different kinds of illegal activities in the vicinity of the event venues during mega events.

Customs reminds consumers to purchase goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. Traders should be cautious and prudent in merchandising since the sale of counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions. Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Under the Copyright Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any infringing goods commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy and imprisonment for four years. Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, or establish or join in any business without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties. For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, fax at 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Hong Kong Customs, Immigration Department and Hong Kong Police Force conduct joint enforcement action during mega event Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs, Immigration Department and Hong Kong Police Force conduct joint enforcement action during mega event Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs, Immigration Department and Hong Kong Police Force conduct joint enforcement action during mega event Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Service arrangements of GREEN@COMMUNITY facilities during Lunar New Year

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (February 9) announced the service arrangements of GREEN@COMMUNITY facilities during the Lunar New Year (LNY) this year.

To facilitate the public in recycling their recyclables generated during the year-end clean-up, the EPD will maintain the normal recycling services of all GREEN@COMMUNITY facilities until February 15. The following arrangements will be implemented at various GREEN@COMMUNITY facilities from February 16 to 20.

February 16: "GREEN@ABERDEEN" and "GREEN@LUEN WO HUI" located inside markets will close at 6pm, other Recycling Stores will close at 7pm, and all night-time Recycling Spots will be closed;

February 17 - 19: All Recycling Stations, Recycling Stores and Recycling Spots will be closed; and

February 20: All GREEN@COMMUNITY facilities will resume normal services.

A spokesman for the EPD said,"During the closure of the Recycling Stores, the public may still place recyclables into the self-service recycling cage trolleys/receptacles provided outside some of the Recycling Stores (no GREEN$ services). People should not leave the recyclables outside the stores or on the street when the self-service recycling facilities are full, to avoid impact on nearby residents and the environment. The operators of Recycling Stores will regularly monitor the conditions of self-service facilities every day and clear the recyclables as needed. In addition, during the closure of Recycling Stations, the public can place recyclables into the self-service recycling facilities inside the stations or outside the gates and may seek assistance from the security guards stationed at the facilities if needed."

The spokesman stressed that the EPD has discussed with the operators to strengthen the monitoring of conditions outside each recycling point during the closure over the LNY holidays, including through CCTV and regular inspections. The operators will deploy staff to promptly clear recyclables where required.

As for food waste recycling, the public can continue to use the smart food waste recycling bins and earn GREEN$ rewards as usual.

For the operating hours and other information of individual GREEN@COMMUNITY facilities during the LNY period, please visit the website (www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en-hk/waste-reduction-programme/greencommunity)as well as the dedicated Facebook pages of the respective facilities.

Source: AI-found images