Hong Kong Customs conducts operation to combat piracy

[Len]

Hong Kong Customs yesterday conducted an operation against shops selling pirated optical discs (PODs) and hawker stalls selling counterfeit products. A total of about 30 000 suspected PODs, 22 000 suspected obscene optical discs and 500 pairs of suspected counterfeit sunglasses with an estimated market value of about $1.23 million was seized.

Customs officers earlier conducted patrols on Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei, and found that some shops sold PODs. After investigation, Customs officers yesterday raided five shops and seized 30 000 suspected PODs, mainly popular movies and local drama series, as well as 22 000 suspected obscene optical discs with an estimated market value of about $1.2 million.

During the operation six persons aged from 28 to 67 were arrested.

Customs officers yesterday also mounted an operation against two hawker stalls in Temple Street and seized about 500 pairs of suspected counterfeit sunglasses with an estimated market value of about $35,000.

Two men, aged 61 and 68, were arrested.

Investigations are ongoing.

Customs has been carrying out stringent enforcement actions against the sale of counterfeit goods and will step up enforcement actions against piracy and counterfeiting activities during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Under the Copyright Ordinance, any person who possesses an infringing copy of a copyright work with a view to selling it commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy and imprisonment for four years.

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Under the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance, any person who possesses for the purpose of publication any obscene article commits an offence.

The maximum penalty upon conviction, is a fine of $1,000,000 and imprisonment for three years.