Nearly 760 infringing copyrights cases have been cracked since the Intellectual Property Rights Protection Alliance was set up in March, resulting in the arrest of 836 people and seizure of $80 million in goods, Deputy Commissioner of Customs & Excise Lawrence Wong says.

Officiating at the opening of the "Hong Kong - The Real Experience" Carnival at Kowloon Park today, Mr Wong said the alliance, formed by the department and the trade, has fostered co-operation and speedier communication on trademark identifications.

"Through this platform of co-operation, we and the intellectual property rights industry can monitor and crack down on the remnants of the infringing activities much more effectively," Mr Wong said.

He also appealed to the public and traders to lend continuing support to upholding Hong Kong's status as the prime shopping destination for genuine goods.

Mr Wong said: "We will certainly win the war against infringers and maintain our good reputation of 'Hong Kong - The Real Experience' if the intellectual property rights industry, the community, the public and the law enforcement agencies join hands to combat intellectual property rights crimes.

"Infringing activities cannot be eradicated by taking vigorous enforcement action alone. If there is still a market demand for pirated goods and goods with counterfeit trademarks, these dying illegal activities will be revitalised.

"Therefore, we need the full support of the public for their respect for intellectual property rights, as well as their resolved refusal to purchase and use pirated and counterfeit goods," Mr Wong reiterated.