A Hong Kong resident was convicted at Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts with one count of misleading a member of the Immigration Service and one count of remaining in the restricted area of Hong Kong International Airport (Airport) without reasonable excuse, and sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment suspended for 24 months and a fine of $3,000 yesterday (June 1).
 
   The 24-year-old female defendant entered the restricted area of the Airport as a departing passenger with a boarding pass to Bangkok, Thailand, on September 17 last year. A few hours after her scheduled flight departed Hong Kong, the subject claimed to a member of the Immigration Service that she missed her flight and requested a cancellation of her departure. As the explanation given by the defendant was suspicious, the Immigration Department (ImmD) began an investigation against the defendant.
 
   Under caution, the defendant admitted that she pretended to be a departing passenger and entered the restricted area of the Airport, and remained in the restricted area to see off her friend. She had never planned to leave Hong Kong for Thailand. The defendant was convicted of one count of misleading a member of the Immigration Service and one count of remaining in the restricted area of the Airport without a reasonable excuse. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges at Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts yesterday. She was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment suspended for 24 months and a fine of $3,000 in total.
 
   "Under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who commits the offence of misleading any member of the Immigration Service by making a false statement is liable to prosecution, and upon conviction to a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for six months. Moreover, under the Aviation Security Regulation, any person who enters and remains in restricted area, unless he/she has on his/her person a valid permit issued to him/her in respect of that restricted area or is being escorted by a permit holder who is authorised by the issuing authority to escort persons into such area, shall be guilty of an offence and liable, upon conviction, subject to the maximum penalty of fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for two years," an ImmD spokesman said.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Dah Sing Bank, Limited relating to fraudulent websites and phishing emails, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the websites or emails concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     The National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force yesterday (June 1) arrested a 23-year-old woman for being suspected of doing an act or acts with seditious intention and possessing seditious publications, contravening Section 9 and 10 of the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200).

     Police today (June 2) laid a holding charge against the woman with one count of doing an act or acts with seditious intention that happened on January 1 this year.
      
     The case will be mentioned at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts this afternoon.

     The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, today (June 2) expressed his deep sorrow over the passing of Mr Paul Chow.
      
     Professor Sun said, "Mr Chow was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited from 2010 to 2016. He had also served as a director of the Board, as well as a member of the Digital 21 Strategy Advisory Committee and its predecessor, the Information Infrastructure Advisory Committee. Mr Chow had led Cyberport to fulfil its public mission, committed to nurturing technology start-ups and talent and laying a solid foundation for the long-term development of Cyberport. I thank him for his exemplary contributions to the development of information, technology and communications in Hong Kong.
      
     "I extend my deepest condolences to Mr Chow's family."

     Hong Kong Customs conducted a two-week enforcement operation codenamed "Tracer" from May 15 to 29 to combat counterfeit and infringing goods activities involving cross-boundary transshipments and local deliveries. During the operation, Customs detected 22 related cases and seized about 78 000 items of suspected counterfeit and infringing goods with an estimated market value of over $44 million. Three men were arrested.

     Through intelligence analysis and in-depth investigation, Customs detected 20 related cases at various local logistics companies. Customs officers identified and carried out strike-and-search operations at about 30 logistics companies in Yuen Long, Tsing Yi, Tuen Mun, Kwai Chung and Tsuen Wan. About 74 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods, including watches, mobile phone accessories, handbags, clothes and footwear, with a total estimated market value of about $43.7 million, were seized.

     Moreover, Customs detected two related cases at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point through risk assessment. Customs officers intercepted two incoming trucks on May 15 and 20, and seized about 900 pieces of suspected infringing blu-ray discs and about 600 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $260,000. Two male truck drivers, aged 55 and 56, were arrested.

     After follow-up investigations, Customs believed that some of the suspected counterfeit and infringing goods would have been sold locally while the rest would have been re-exported to overseas destinations. Subsequently, Customs officers organised a controlled delivery operation and further seized about 2 100 pieces of suspected infringing blu-ray discs, with an estimated market value of about $87 000, at a retail shop in Mong Kok on May 16. A 57-year-old male shop proprietor was arrested. 

     Investigations of the above-mentioned cases are ongoing. The three arrested men have been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs appeals to consumers to purchase goods at reputable shops or websites and to check with the trademark or copyright owners or authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt to avoid buying counterfeit or infringing goods.

     Customs reminds practitioners in the logistics industry to comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO) and to check with the trademark owners or authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. The department also reminds traders or online sellers not to sell counterfeit or infringing goods and to be cautious and prudent in merchandising since selling counterfeit or infringing goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.

     Customs will continue to step up inspections and conduct intelligence-led enforcement to vigorously combat different types of counterfeit and infringing goods activities.

     Under the TDO, any person who imports or exports or sells or possesses for sale any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years. 

     Under the Copyright Ordinance, any person, who without the licence of the copyright owner of a copyright work, imports, sells or exposes for sale or hire an infringing copy of the work 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 counterfeiting or infringing activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).