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Hong Kong Customs cracked down on various retail points involved in the sale of suspected counterfeit portable chargers over the past three months and seized some 3 900 suspected counterfeit portable chargers.
Acting on information provided by a trademark owner, Customs conducted a series of strike-and-search operations in various districts over the past three months. A total of 39 cases were detected with the seizure of some 3 900 pieces of suspected counterfeit portable chargers valued at about $270,000. In total 28 men and 21 women aged from 18 to 57 were arrested. They were released on bail pending further investigation.
The Divisional Commander of Intellectual Property General Investigation Division, Mr Lam Yau-tak, said today (June 12) that in the relevant product safety test the output performance of the seized portable charges was found to be below the declared specifications. Some of them were also found to be at risk of overheating and short-circuiting. Hong Kong Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement actions to combat counterfeit activities.
He also reminded members of the public to purchase goods at retail shops with good reputations and traders not to sell counterfeit products or supply unsafe consumer goods.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, it is an offence to sell or possess for sale any goods with any forged trademark. Upon conviction, offenders are liable to a maximum punishment of imprisonment for five years and a fine of $500,000.
Under the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance, it is an offence to supply, manufacture or import into Hong Kong consumer goods unless they comply with the general safety requirement. Upon conviction, offenders are liable, on first conviction, to a fine of $100,000 and to imprisonment for one year and on subsequent conviction, to a fine of $500,000 and to imprisonment for two years.
Anyone with information relating to suspected counterfeiting activities may call the Customs via the 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Friday, June 12, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:33
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