Hong Kong Customs seizes clothes with suspected false claims
************************************************************
Customs earlier received information alleging that clothes of a specific brand with suspected false descriptions of the country of origin were put on sale in a chain retailing group. Customs officers then test-purchased the branded clothes from three branches of the group located in Sha Tin and Tseung Kwan O. It was found that the clothes bore two different country of origin labels, namely "made in korea" and "MADE IN CHINA".
Customs subsequently took action today and seized 63 pieces of clothing tops, with a total value of $9,000, with suspected false descriptions of country of origin from the three branches. During the operation, Customs officers arrested a female manager and two female persons-in-charge of the branches, aged between 42 and 49. They have been released on bail pending further investigation.
The case is still under investigation and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). 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.
Members of the public may report any suspected violation of the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
Ends/Monday, May 13, 2024
Issued at HKT 17:50
Issued at HKT 17:50
NNNN