Gin company and its ex-director convicted of contravening Trade Descriptions Ordinance and Dutiable Commodities Ordinance
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Hong Kong Customs in April 2020 noticed the sale of gin claimed as locally-distilled on a social media platform by a company claimed as a liquor manufacturing factory. It was also found that an ex-director of the company had imported a batch of 1 557 bottles of gin without any labels from New Zealand. Later, Customs further seized 1 325 bottles of gin without labels, seven bottles bearing a label with printed words of "Distilled and Bottled", a batch of unused labels with the same printed words and a set of still used for distilling or processing spirits at the company's factory unit in Tsuen Wan.
Follow-up investigation revealed that the ex-director of the company involved in the case attempted to use imported gin from overseas to disguise as local-distilled gin for sale. He also failed to attach labels printed with alcoholic strength on the alcohol containers for local consumption.
Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Under the DCO, any person imports into or manufactures in Hong Kong liquor for local consumption, of which the container failed to bear a label printed with the alcoholic strength or the range of alcoholic strength, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000.
Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO or DCO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Friday, April 28, 2023
Issued at HKT 20:15
Issued at HKT 20:15
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