Customs crackdown on illegal football matches broadcasts in Tung Chung, arresting two

Two individuals were arrested on Sunday night in a Tung Chung restaurant for broadcasting overseas football matches using illegal streams.

On the evening of November 24, Customs officers targeted the operators of a restaurant for utilizing unauthorized streaming devices to show live football games to their patrons. 

Customs arrested a 27-year-old restaurant manager and a 57-year-old employee during the raid and confiscated various illegal streaming devices along with audio-visual and network equipment, collectively valued at approximately HK$18,000.

Officials discovered multiple televisions within the establishment, highlighting the scale of the infringement. The case is still under investigation and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

The enforcement followed a thorough investigation initiated by a report that the restaurant publicly cast copyrighted football matches without proper authorization.

The implicated restaurant, situated on the ground floor of a shopping mall, can accommodate between 80 and 100 customers and serves alcoholic beverages. It operates until late at night, providing a venue where patrons can simultaneously eat, drink, and watch football matches.

Customs remind all merchants to refrain from engaging in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted works. Additionally, the public is urged to respect intellectual property rights and avoid accessing film, television, and pay TV channels through illegal streaming methods, which may expose users to computer viruses or other malicious software.