Hong Kong Customs combats traders supplying shortweight Chung Yeung Festival products
From September 30 to October 10, Hong Kong Customs conducted a territory-wide inspection to combat traders supplying shortweight products before the Chung Yeung Festival. After test buys and spot checks, three traders suspected of violating the regulations were found, in contravention of the Weights and Measures Ordinance (WMO).
During the operation, Customs officers inspected a total of 130 roasted meat stalls and fruit shops, three of which were found to be supplying siu mei products and fruits that were shortweighted, with discrepancies ranging from 10.59 per cent to 11.31 per cent.
Investigations are ongoing.
Customs reminds consumers to purchase products from reputable shops and pay attention to the weighing process and the actual weight when the products are supplied by weight.
Customs also reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the WMO. Under the WMO, any person who in the course of trade supplies goods to another person by weight or measure should supply the goods in net weight or net measure. Any shortage of the quantity purporting to be supplied is an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $10,000. In addition, any person who uses for trade, or has in his possession for use for trade, any weighing or measuring equipment which is false or defective commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $25,000. Also, any person who fails to let customers have a clear view of readings of the weighing or measuring equipment is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $5,000.
Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against shortweight activities to protect consumers' interests and uphold a fair trading environment.
Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the WMO to the 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 combats provision of infringing karaoke songs by party rooms in course of business
Hong Kong Customs mounted a territory-wide enforcement operation codenamed "Magpie" between December 9 and yesterday (December 20) to combat illegal activities involving party room operators providing infringing karaoke songs to customers in the course of business.
Through intelligence analysis and with the assistance of copyright owners, Customs earlier identified a number of party rooms suspected of possessing and providing infringing karaoke songs to customers in the course of business. Customs officers then took enforcement action and raided 15 party rooms in various districts, including Tuen Mun, Kwai Chung, Kwun Tong and Kowloon Bay. A total of 16 sets of karaoke devices used for playing suspected infringing songs, one set of game console with suspected pirated electronic games, and a batch of audio and video equipment were seized. The total estimated market value is approximately $400,000. Three men aged between 31 and 40, were arrested for being suspected of contravening the Copyright Ordinance. They were all persons-in-charge of the party rooms. The investigation is ongoing and further arrest may be made.
Customs reminds business operators to comply with the Copyright Ordinance and to make enquiries to copyright owners on matters relating to the use of musical visual recordings in the course of business.
Customs will continue to step up inspection and enforcement to vigorously combat different kinds of infringing activities to safeguard the rights of copyright owners.
Under the Ordinance, any person, who without the licence of the copyright owner of a copyright work, possesses infringing copies of a copyright work for the purpose of, or in the course of, any trade or business with the view to it being used by any person commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy and imprisonment for four years.
Members of the public may report any suspected infringing 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 combats provision of infringing karaoke songs by party rooms in course of business Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs combats provision of infringing karaoke songs by party rooms in course of business Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
