Hong Kong Customs Seizes Suspected Counterfeit Jewellery Worth About $30,000 at Fair Booths, Arrests Four Individuals

Hong Kong Customs combats sale of suspected counterfeit and infringing jewellery at fair booths

Hong Kong Customs today (June 21) conducted an enforcement operation at the Jewellery & Gem ASIA Hong Kong (JGA) being held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, seizing about 21 items of suspected counterfeit and infringing jewellery with a total estimated market value of about $30,000.

Customs received information alleging that counterfeit and infringing jewellery were displayed for sale at some booths at the JGA which lasted for four consecutive days starting from June 18.

After an in-depth investigation and with the assistance of the copyright owner, Customs officers today seized the batch of suspected counterfeit and infringing jewellery from two booths.

During the operation, one man and three women, aged between 24 and 50, were arrested for being suspected of contravening the Trade Descriptions Ordinance and the Copyright Ordinance. Two of them are persons-in-charge and two of them are staff. An investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

Customs attaches great importance to combating counterfeiting and infringing activities and will deploy officers to different exhibitions to conduct inspections from time to time. Customs will contact the relevant trademark or copyright owners immediately to confirm the authenticity of the goods when suspected counterfeit or infringing goods are found. The department will also take enforcement action after investigations and with the assistance of the trademark or copyright owners.

Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action. Booth exhibitors are reminded to respect intellectual property rights and not to sell counterfeit and infringing goods.

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 an infringing copy of a copyright work commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 for each piece of infringing goods 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).

Hong Kong Customs today (June 21) conducted an enforcement operation at the Jewellery & Gem ASIA Hong Kong being held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, seizing about 21 items of suspected counterfeit and infringing jewellery with a total estimated market value of about $30,000. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects case involving precious metals and stones dealer carrying out both specified cash and non-cash transactions without registration

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 6) detected a case involving a local company that conducted cash and non-cash transactions of watches containing precious metals and stones valued at over HK$120,000, without registration under the Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Regulatory Regime. The investigation is ongoing.

According to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615), unless exempted, any person who is seeking to carry on a business of dealing in precious metals and stones and engage in any transaction(s) (whether making or receiving a payment) with a total value at or above HK$120,000 in Hong Kong is required to register with Hong Kong Customs. In particular, no person other than a Category B registrant may carry out a cash transaction with a total value at or above HK$120,000 in the course of business of dealing in precious metals and stones.

Any dealer, other than a registrant, who claims to be a registrant, claims to be authorised to carry out, or carries out any cash or non-cash transaction(s) with a total value at or above HK$120,000 is liable to a maximum fine of HK$100,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.

Customs reminds dealers in precious metals and stones that they must obtain the relevant registration before they can carry out any cash or non-cash transaction(s) with a total value at or above HK$120,000.

For the forms, procedures and guidelines to submit applications for registration, please visit the website for Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Registration System (www.drs.customs.gov.hk) or Customs' webpage (www.customs.gov.hk/en/service-enforcement-information/anti-money-laundering/supervision-of-dealers-in-precious-metals-and-ston/index.html).

Members of the public may report any suspected transactions involving precious metals and stones with a total value at or above HK$120,000 conducted without the required registration 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).

Source: AI-found images