investigates and prosecutes copyright offences relating to literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works, sound recordings, films, broadcasts, cable programmes, and the typographical arrangement of published editions. Apart from clamping down on pirated optical discs activities at the manufacture, storage, retail and import/export levels, the C&ED strives to fight against corporate piracy, namely, the use of pirated software and copyright works for commercial purposes. Moreover, four Anti-Internet-Piracy Teams have been established to fight against piracy activities on the Internet. The Customs Computer Forensic Laboratory offers professional assistance in collecting, preserving, analyzing, and presenting digital evidence to law court in piracy cases. It has been awarded ISO 9001 on quality management and ISO 27001 on information security. In 2013, the department seized pirated goods worth $8.8 million and arrested 143 persons under the Copyright Ordinance. The C&ED also investigates laundering of crimes proceeds of the pirated optical discs and counterfeiting goods syndicates. A total of $130 million worth of assets suspected to be derived from the infringing and counterfeiting activities had been restrained under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance since 2004.
The department also takes enforcement action against commercial goods with forged trademark or false label under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance.
In 2013, goods worth about $146 million were seized and 663 persons were arrested under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. At the manufacture level, the Prevention of Copyright Piracy Ordinance requires local optical disc and stamper manufacturers to obtain licences from the department and mark on all their products specific identification codes. Besides, the Import and Export Ordinance imposes licensing controls on the import and export of optical disc mastering and replication equipment.
Customs Cooperation: The C&ED is an active member of the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). It exchanges intelligence and works closely with overseas Customs administrations and law enforcement agencies. The department has also entered into bilateral Cooperative Arrangements with other Customs authorities on administrative assistance. At the working level, the department and the Mainland Customs have each established designated liaison officers to facilitate the exchange of intelligence through direct telephone hotlines.
Seizures and Prosecutions: In 2013, the C&ED seized a total of $1,330 million worth of goods. They included illicit drugs valued at $336 million; infringing goods worth $8.8 million; counterfeit goods worth $136 million; smuggled merchandises worth $906 million; and dutiable commodities worth $237 million.
In 2013, the C&ED prosecuted 6 647 persons and firms under various laws enforced by the department. Fines amounted to $56 million and 1 348 custodial sentences were imposed on convicted persons.
Among the prosecutions, 3 276 were cases relating to unlawful commercial malpractices such as violation of licensing controls of powdered formula, strategic commodities and reserved commodities, contravention of consumer protection legislations, unlicensed operation of money service and textile licensing frauds.
| Published by the Information Services Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government GovHK Website: http://www.gov.hk Information contained in this publication may be freely used. No acknowledgement is necessary. |
The Customs and Excise Department Home Page address: http://www.customs.gov.hk |
October 2014 |
