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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, after attending a public event, spoke at a media session tonight (September 18) on the enhanced enforcement actions to be taken against parallel trade in North District. Following is an English translation of the main points of Mrs Lam's remarks:
* The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) will step up enforcement action against obstruction of public places, public nuisance and matters affecting public safety caused by parallel traders. It will also assist the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) with enforcement within MTR stations.
* Hong Kong's Customs and Excise Department will increase manpower and resources at the Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau rail-based boundary control points to ensure regular travellers crossing the boundary would not be obstructed by parallel traders. Plainclothes officers will also be deployed to gather intelligence, which would be passed to relevant authorities in Hong Kong and Shenzhen for their respective law enforcement work.
* The Immigration Department will carry out inspections on parallel traders, including those who divide up, distribute and carry goods, in full force in the North District area. Any two-way permit holders found to be engaged in such commercial activities will be prosecuted by the Immigration Department for the offence of breach of conditions of stay. For convicted parallel traders from the Mainland, the Immigration Department will request the entry and exit authorities of the Mainland to cancel their visit endorsement for entering Hong Kong. In regard to those who are reasonably suspected by the Immigration Department of engaging in parallel trade activities, the department will not rule out the possibility of refusing permission for these people to land in future.
* The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will increase manpower to tackle environmental hygiene problems and other nuisances to the public caused by the parallel trade activities, as well as clear away the disposed items, to keep the North District area tidy.
* Some parallel trade activities that involve dividing up and distributing goods take place at the industrial buildings in the Sheung Shui area. The Lands Department and the Fire Services Department will step up their inspections at the industrial buildings for any breaches of regulations. For example, they will check if fire safety requirements and lease conditions are met. The departments will take immediate enforcement action if non-compliance with fire safety requirements and lease conditions is found.
* Finally, in addition to the work of government departments, MTRCL will commit full support, with the co-ordination of the Transport and Housing Bureau, for the Government's law enforcement work. MTRCL will promptly increase manpower to strictly enforce the legal limit on the size of luggage at the gates. If the size of luggage exceeds the legal limit, MTRCL will take enforcement action according to law. The increased manpower will focus on Sheung Shui Station, but the possibility of redeploying to other stations will not be ruled out. In the course of enforcement, the HKPF will also make every effort to provide assistance to them when necessary.
Ends/Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Issued at HKT 22:29
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