HONG KONG: Hong Kong police have arrested four people for allegedly selling fake tickets to a star-studded Chanel fashion show.
Police revealed details of the case on Wednesday (Nov 6), a day after the Chanel 24-25 Early Spring Resort Collection fashion show took place at the Hong Kong Design Institute in Tseung Kwan O.
Chow Yun-fat and his wife, Jasmine Tan, were among the Hong Kong stars in attendance, as well as Carina Lau Ka-ling and Fala Chen. Taiwanese actor Chen Bolin and South Korean pop star G-Dragon were also part of the celebrity crowd.
The force said it had dispatched officers after receiving a report from the organiser. Two men and two women were arrested near the event venue on suspicion of obtaining assets by deception.
All four were mainland Chinese and aged between 35 and 40. The suspects are being detained for further investigation.
Police seized 11 suspected counterfeit entry passes during the arrests.
The offence is punishable by up to 14 years in jail and a HK$5 million fine.
The spring edition of the show took place in Marseille, France, in May.
Chanel opted for a site rarely used for such shows in Hong Kong, instead of a more prominent location such as Tsim Sha Tsui.
The Design Institute is an institution under the Vocational Training Council with an aim to nurture design talent to support the city’s creative industry development.
In November last year, luxury brand Louis Vuitton turned the waterfront Avenue of Stars esplanade in Tsim Sha Tsui into a fashion runway with Victoria Harbour as its backdrop. - South China Morning Post