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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1977
REWARDS FOR FAKE WATCHES
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IN ANOTHER MOVE TO STOP COUNTERFEITING OF WATCHES, THE GOVERNMENT TOGETHER WITH SWISS AND JAPANESE WATCH MANUFACTURERS IS TO PAY REWARDS FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO SEIZURES OR ARRESTS.
THIS IS THE RESULT OF AGREEMENTS SIGNED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SWISS AND JAPANESE WATCH INDUSTRIES.
THE COUNTERFEITING OF WATCHES IS A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE ENORMOUS PROFITS INVOLVED. IN RECENT YEARS, HONG KONG HAS BEEN STEPPING UP ITS FIGHT AGAINST THE ILLEGAL MANUFACTURE AND TRAFFIC IN FAKE WATCHES.
THE TRADE INVESTIGATION BRANCH OF THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT HAS SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH INVESTIGATIONS AND PROSECUTIONS IN HONG KONG.
FROM JANUARY LAST YEAR UP TO THE PRESENT, THE BRANCH HAS SEIZED A TOTAL OF 26,748 COUNTERFEIT WATCHES AND RELATED ITEMS RESULTING IN THE PROSECUTION OF 10 PEOPLE FOUR OF WHOM WERE IMPRISONED FOR PERIODS OF NINE TO 18 MONTHS AND THE REMAINDER RECEIVED HEAVY FINES.
TODAY'S AGREEMENTS WERE SIGNED BY MR. ROY PORTER, THE ACTING COMMISSIONER OF INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS; MR. CHARLES DUBOIS OF THE SWISS WATCH INDUSTRY INFORMATION CENTRE, AND MR. TATSUO SHIMIZU REPRESENTING SEIKO WATCHES.
THE AGREEMENTS SET OUT THE PROCEDURES FOR JOINT PAYMENT OF REWARDS FOR INFORMATION FROM THE PUEL IC RESULTING IN THE SEIZURE OF FAKE WATCHES AND MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT OR THE SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF THOSE INVOLVED IN COUNTERFEITING.
SPEAKING AFTER THE SIGNING MR. DUBOIS SAID, +WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN COMBATING THIS PROBLEM. + HE ADDED THAT THERE HAS BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN THE SIZE OF THIS ILLEGAL TRADE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AS A RESULT OF THE T.1.C. DEPARTMENT'S DETERMINATION TO STAMP IT OUT IN HONG KONG.
THE REWARDS WILL COVER ALL SWISS WATCH BRAND NAMES AS WELL AS SEIKO WATCHES.
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