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Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, at a joint press conference today (February 1) on measures to combat cross-boundary parallel trading and help ensure a stable supply of infant formula:
The Government is in close liaison with the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) in measures to combat parallel trade activities. To tie in with the Government's further efforts in this direction, the MTRCL will deploy four new measures.
First, starting from next Monday, i.e. February 4, the weight limit on passenger luggage will be further lowered from the existing 32 kilograms for the East Rail Line to 23kg. This new measure will be implemented on a trial basis for three months in the first instance.
Second, starting from next Monday, weight check for passenger luggage will also be conducted at the Tai Po Market and Fo Tan stations. At the moment as we know, we have luggage check in terms of weight at Sheung Shui, Fanling, Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations.
The third measure is the manpower of the By-laws Inspection Unit of the MTRCL will be further increased. The number of members will be increased by half from the existing 39 to 59. In addition, the existing 92 contract security staff will step up patrols to maintain order in stations.
The fourth measure is the MTRCL will step up patrols on trains, and it will also strengthen communication and co-operation with enforcement agencies including the Police, to make sure that our measures are effective.
Here I would like to take the opportunity to thank the MTRCL management as well as frontline staff for their efforts to support the Government in our measures.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the opening remarks.)
Ends/Friday, February 1, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:14
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