Lower thirds:

00:02 Report by / Emily Siu
00:58 Steve Vickers / SVA CEO
02:31 Alan Wu / Football Kingdom Ltd. Owner

Script:

Ladies Market in Hong Kong is an open-air bazaar known for knock-offs. Stalls here openly sell counterfeits at a fraction of the cost of real goods.

With the World Cup underway, football fans are flocking here for replicas… 

to support their teams… at prices they’re willing to pay.

00:20 - 00:24
+++ ZACH NEDEIROS, STUDENT +++
"I know it's an easy place to find fake jerseys and not spend a lot of money on them."

China is the world’s largest production hub for both authentic and counterfeit apparel. According to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, China accounts for 47% of the value of fake goods seized globally.

Hong Kong is a critical cog within the supply chain, serving as a logistics and re-export hub.

Steve Vickers is based in the city and runs a risk consultancy firm. He says what looks like a harmless bargain may be fuelling highly illicit business.

00:57
+++ STEVE VICKERS, SVA CEO (Consultancy firm) +++
"The lower end stuff, it's pretty obvious, and I don't think it's any threat to the sponsors or to FIFA, but the high quality ones… are the work of criminals or corrupt activities from genuine suppliers. So that is depriving the industry. This is a problem of the manufacturers and the distributors who have created a market which is very lucrative."

In June, Hong Kong Customs seized US$20 million-worth of fake FIFA World Cup merchandise bound for overseas markets, mainly in the Americas. That haul included 30,000 jerseys, including what are known in the business as professional-grade “super-fakes” that use premium materials and tailoring.

At the market, shoppers struggle to tell the difference.

+++ KARL ROBERTSSON, STUDENT +++
"I am not sure…this is a tough question."

+++ ANEESH SEETHAPALLI, STUDENT +++
"These are pretty good to be honest. Maybe they are both fake, I can’t tell now."

Spotting high-quality knock-offs requires an expert eye.

Alan Wu specialises in customising authentic football jerseys, and he stocks vintage and limited edition tops as well.

Some go for as much as $6,000.

The best way to spot a fake, according to Wu, is to see if the code on the price tag matches the number printed on the tag… sewn on to the bottom of the shirt.

Wu says business is booming because of the World Cup. He’s turned away customers looking for counterfeit jerseys. 

But most of his clients are not interested in fakes, no matter how good the quality is. 

02:29
+++ ALAN WU, FOOTBALL KINGDOM Ltd. OWNER +++
"People will know if you buy the fake jersey, you can wear like 1 or 2 times. But the original jersey, you have the second market value. Like after ten years, maybe (the price of) your shirt can be raised two times or three times. Many people buy this not for wearing, for collection."

World Cup fever has amplified sales and customs checks of counterfeit goods …

... but here at Ladies’ Market, the “copies” that have taken over the original.

END