September 29, 2004
A Hong Kong shoe manufacturer who was treated violently by German police in Dusseldorf before being arrested along with his wife returned to Hong Kong Tuesday, saying that the incident led to him suffering losses of more than US$1 million.
Ho Chi-fai said he will take legal action to seek compensation for his financial losses.
Dusseldorf police accused Ho and his wife Lo Ye-wah of taking counterfeit goods to an international shoe exhibition on September 16.
But the couple said they were treated unjustly and suffered huge losses after Dusseldorf authorities confiscated most of their shoe samples.
"I am only an ordinary businessman, and I never thought I would be treated with such disrespect and so unreasonably in an advanced Western country," Ho told reporters Tuesday morning after arriving with his wife at the airport.
"The German authorities confiscated my goods without sufficient evidence, which has seriously affected our business opportunities in the first half of next year as we can only show customers photographs of our products," he said.
Ho demanded a formal apology from the German Government, adding that the Hong Kong government should look into the case.
He praised the central government for being proactive in protecting the rights of Chinese citizens overseas.
"After seeking help from the local Chinese embassy, they responded quickly and sent people to confer with the German authorities on my behalf, which resulted in an apology to the Chinese side," he said.
The couple were detained by police for more than two hours on suspicion of violating patent rights.
Chairman of the Sai Kung District Council Ng Tze-fok expressed anger and regret at the unjust treatment of the Sai Kung residents overseas, and will arrange for Ho to meet with government officials to discuss the case and consider further action.
"We are determined to seek justice for Mr Ho," he added.
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