Two people arrested following a raid on a Hong Kong restaurant that was illegally broadcasting Liverpool matches

Hong Kong Customs has arrested a restaurant owner for allegedly using an illegal streaming device to broadcast live football matches in Tung Chung, marking the first time that tougher copyright law has been used against a catering company.

During Sunday’s raid, officers found multiple televisions broadcasting a foreign soccer match to customers, Senior Inspector Chow Lai-man of the Customs Bureau of Intellectual Property Investigation said on Monday.

The operation was performed around 10 p.m., when an English Premier League (EPL) match between Southampton and Liverpool was being played.

Two men, aged 27 and 57, were detained, identified as the restaurant owner and an employee. The authorities do not rule out further arrests.

Officers seized illegal streaming and networking devices, as well as three televisions with an estimated street value of HK$18,000.

Chow said the restaurant, which seats 80 to 100 people, serves alcoholic beverages and is open until late at night.